By Briar Sinclair
FERRIES purposely blocking competitors and perpetually running late; threats between crews; a war of words between council and traders – it’s all in a day’s work at Gem Pier.
A new licensing system and berthing plan for ferry operators, scheduled to begin in November, has already won support from sections of the community.
But ferry operators say it won’t solve the problems and is just a grab for cash for the licensing authority, Parks Victoria.
Former Williamstown Traders’ Association president Greg Murray said the ferry system needed a drastic shake-up because operators treated tourists like “second-class citizens”.
“The focal services from Southgate to Williamstown and return are a joke and an indictment on the Parks Victoria policy for ferry services,” he said.
“There are too many part-time tourism service operators who do not give the area the respect that it deserves.
“And they are not helped by council’s wishy-washy attitude to the area, and the same goes for Parks Victoria.”
Mr Murray said operators left people stranded in Williamstown, leaving them to catch a train back to Melbourne, and were known to run more than an hour late on their schedule.
“Their non-caring attitude has set the tourism program back time and time again because they have left thousands of tourists with a very bitter taste in their mouths,” Mr Murray said.
“It’s a bloody disgrace.”
The revised system is part of Parks Victoria’s Two Rivers project, focusing on the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers.
Two Rivers project manager Paul Dartnell said the project aimed to provide consistency for operators.
Operators must have a licence to sail the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers, but not Port Phillip Bay.
Mr Dartnell said half-hour time slots would be allocated to ferry operators from October to January every weekend for about $10 a time. “At the moment, it’s a bit of a free-for-all and sometimes they stay longer than they should.
“The new licensing system allows them to book a time slot or a series of time slots on Saturday and Sunday, from November to January, and it gives them some surety on when they can berth,” Mr Dartnell said.
Mr Murray said volunteers at Hobsons Bay City Council’s visitor information centre bore the brunt of many complaints from tourists regarding the sloppy service given by ferry operators.
“I have spoken to a number of volunteers who are sick and tired of taking the brunt of disgruntled visitors to the town, who have been left to fend for themselves,” he said.
“Council should be aware that their representatives are being held accountable for the actions of other people.” Hobsons Bay mayor Carl Marsich said the council had not received any complaints.
He also said the local law officers were not aware of any issues.
Mr Murray said some operators would cancel whenever they did not feel like turning up.
“If a better offer comes along they will cancel at the drop of a hat, or won’t even turn up despite selling return tickets from Southgate,” he said.
Mick Trezise, who has operated Williamstown Charters for 20 years, said he would not operate on windy, hot days because of a lack of patronage.
“Sometimes it is not viable,” he said.
Mr Trezise said he and other operators would cancel their ferry services for the day if offered a more lucrative charter.
“What we pick up off the pier is just a supplement to our income,” he said.
Mr Trezise opposes the new licensing system because newcomers might buy a licence and push him out of business.
“I’ve spent $1000 implementing and putting in an expression of interest, which was supposed to be implemented last October,” he said.
“I’ve been operating in that area for 20 years and now they are saying anyone can operate their business there, and I don’t have a right to work there any more.”
Mr Trezise said Parks Victoria’s proposed system had started a war between ferry operators.
He said he avoided the confrontation and would not run his boats when it got too dangerous.
“It’s a very dangerous situation on a Sunday, and it’s absolutely out of control.”
“There’s a breakdown every week and probably an accident per month.
“One day someone is going to fall in the drink or get killed."
