Private ferry fares under review
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) is calling for public submissions on fares for 7 private ferry services in Sydney, the Central Coast and the NSW North Coast.
IPART is setting maximum fares for four years, with the new fares to apply from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2025. The last time that fares were determined was for the period 2018-2021.
The private ferry services covered by the review are:
- Brooklyn Ferry Services – Brooklyn to Dangar Island
- Central Coast Ferries – Woy Woy to Empire Bay
- Church Point Ferry Service – Scotland Island and western foreshore of Pittwater
- Clarence River Ferries – Iluka to Yamba
- Captain Cook Cruises – Circular Quay to Lane Cove
- Cronulla and National Park Ferry Service – Cronulla to Bundeena
- Palm Beach Ferries – Palm Beach to Mackerel Beach and the Basin, and Palm Beach to Ettalong and Wagstaffe.
Tribunal member Ms Sandra Gamble said IPART’s review will consider the efficient costs of running each ferry service. It will then look at how these costs should be shared between fares paid by passengers and any subsidy paid by taxpayers.
“We are seeking feedback from all stakeholders including passengers who use these services on the ferry operators’ proposed fares and our approach to determine fares,” Ms Gamble said.
Details about the review are included in the Issues Paper released today, along with information papers detailing the context and our proposed approach for the review. IPART is inviting public comment on these before 6 August 2021.
The Issues Paper is available on IPART’s website.
Table 1 Maximum fares for private ferry operators from 2018 -2021
|
Operator |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Average annual fare increase |
|
Brooklyn Ferry Service |
$7.70 |
$8.10 |
$8.50 |
$9.00 |
5% |
|
Central Coast Ferries |
$8.00 |
$8.20 |
$8.30 |
$8.30 |
1% |
|
Church Point Ferry Service |
$8.70 |
$9.00 |
$9.40 |
$9.70 |
4% |
|
Clarence River Ferries |
$8.60 |
$8.90 |
$9.20 |
$9.50 |
3% |
|
Cronulla and National Park Ferry Service |
$6.60 |
$6.80 |
$7.10 |
$7.40 |
4% |
|
Matilda Cruises – Circular Quay to Darling Harboura |
$7.60 |
$7.70 |
$7.80 |
$7.80 |
1% |
|
Matilda Cruises – Circular Quay to Lane Coveb |
$7.60 |
$7.70 |
$7.80 |
$7.80 |
1% |
|
Palm Beach Ferries –Mackerel Beach and the Basin |
$8.20 |
$8.40 |
$8.60 |
$8.70 |
2% |
|
Palm Beach Ferries –Ettalong and Wagstaffe |
$11.80 |
$12.00 |
$12.20 |
$12.50 |
2% |
- Captain Cook (Matilda) Cruises Circular Quay to Darling Harbour route is no longer operating
- Matilda Cruises – Circular Quay to Lane Cove route is now run by Captain Cook Cruises
Source: IPART, Review of fares for private ferry services – Maximum fares for private ferry services from January 2018 to December 2021 - Final Report and Determination, November 2017, p 1; and annual updates.
Media Contact: Adrian Flood
0427 105 865
media@ipart.nsw.gov.au