Great News but Government must guarantee river
transport to Parramatta
Less than a
week ago Premier Nathan Rees announced a blueprint to restore Parramatta’s
former glory as one of Australia’s earliest settlements. Mr Rees was quoted as
saying “But it (Parramatta) has been continually neglected.”
The NSW Premier today
announced that the Government would take control of the State-owned Corporation
responsible for Sydney Ferries, including services running to Parramatta.
According to the
Premier, the move will see improved services and, if the current management
can’t meet the standards, the Government will seek competitive bids from the
private sector.
The Premier outlined his
action plan in response to the Special Commission of Inquiry into Sydney
Ferries undertaken by Bret Walker SC.
Acting on Mr Walker’s
key recommendations Mr Rees said the Government will:
• Implement a service
contract agreement for Sydney Ferries to establish clear
benchmarks for the
organisation;
• Proceed with a market
testing exercise of Sydney Ferries; and
• Consider establishing
a commuter service to the expanding Parramatta
community, and an
expression of interest for the route will be issued in November.
Since the Walker report was released last year the Chamber together with
the Parramatta City Council, our Local member Tanya Gadiel and a number of
major businesses in Parramatta have collectively put their support towards the
continuation as well as an increase to the services delivered to Parramatta
The Lord Mayor of
Parramatta today personally attended a press conference held by the NSW Premier
Nathan Rees to seek assurances that the State Government was committed to
keeping and expanding the Parramatta RiverCat service.
“We welcome Premier
Rees’ tough stance to improve the iconic Sydney Ferries. At a media conference
this morning the Premier vowed to keep the Parramatta ferry and pursue a full
commuter service,” said the Lord Mayor of Parramatta City Council, Cr Tony Issa
OAM.
“This is great news for
the people of Parramatta. Since we began our ferry fight to build and not axe
the RiverCat, we’ve proven there is overwhelming community support for the
service along the river between Parramatta and Sydney – something I know
Premier Rees understands,” the Lord Mayor said.
Roman Dechnicz,
President Parramatta Chamber of Commerce joined the Lord Mayor in
congratulating Premier Rees on his vision and his commitment to the people of
Parramatta and Sydney’s west.
