Parramata. Ferry services to continue

The Transport Minister, Gladys Berejiklian, said existing ferry services and fares will continue as normal as the new operator focuses on improving services for customers. Harbour City Ferries, a consortium of Transfield Services and Veolia Transdev, has won the right to operate Sydney's ferry system over competing bids from the detention centre operator Serco, Transit Systems and Forgacs Engineering. Harbour City will run the services by late July or August

Parramatta. Companies lodge bids

Three short-listed bidders, British-based Serco, French firm Veolia Transdev with Sydney-based Transfield Services, and Queensland ferry operator Transit Systems with Forgacs Engineering, have lodged bids to run Sydney’s ferry fleet. The new operator is expected to be in place by the end of the year, with the government retaining control over routes and rates.

Parramatta. Hovercraft on the river

Gary Aston, MD, of Melbourne-based, Maria Hovercraft, said hovercraft vessels would be ideal on Sydney Harbour and up the Parramatta River. “Parramatta River is the best venue for a hovercraft – you don’t have to any dredging,” he said. Sydney entrepreneur, Ian Brookfield, claimed he could have more than six hovercraft on the water by Christmas, according to a Daily Telegraph report. The state government is moving to privatise Sydney Ferries.

Region. Six new ferries at $225 million

Minister for Transport, John Robertson, said the NSW Government has started the procurement process to build six new Sydney Ferries vessels to operate services on Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River, at a cost of $225 million.

Parramatta. Patronage on Sydney Ferries

Figures from the Ministry of Transport’s Data Transport Centre showed that 10 per cent of the patronage on Sydney Ferries, of around 14 million passengers annually (2006) came from services along the Parramatta River. The share of journey-to-work figures to the Sydney CBD from Parramatta was: ferry, 3 per cent; vehicle, 21 per cent; bus/train, 74 per cent.