Private and public funding way to improve Auckland's ferries, Fullers360 says

Wednesday, 14 November 2018

Fullers360 new ferry strategy was based on investment from the public and private sectors.

Collaboration is needed in order to radically expand Auckland's ferry services, according to a new ferry strategy.

Ferry provider Fullers360 is proposing up to 11 new commuter routes in their new vision for the city's ferries, Gulf 2025, released on Wednesday.

But the ambitious plan would rely on private and public funding to get it off the ground.

The strategy included replacing old vessels with electric ferries and updating infrastructure accordingly.

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Fullers360 chief executive officer Mike Horne said the city's ferries needed more frequency, capacity and better infrastructure.

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'We need to get so much more out of our existing network,' Fullers360 chief executive officer Mike Horne said.

Some of the commuter and tourism routes in the Gulf 2025 strategy.

'We need more frequency, more capacity, purpose-built vessels, better infrastructure.'

Among the new commuter routes proposed in the strategy were ones to northern suburbs, such as Takapuna, Browns Bay and Millwater.

Upper Harbour's Greenhithe, Whenuapai and Paremoremo were also included.

A new ferry hub at Wynyard Quarter was proposed to deal with growth and maximise opportunities such as the America's Cup.

Horne said the renovation of Queens Wharf alone wouldn't be enough, as ferry users were predicted to grow from 6 million to 9 million by 2025.

There was no estimate for how much the ferry strategy might cost to implement.

But Horne held up the recent example of the funding of Hobsonville Point's trial weekend ferry service, which saw Government agencies, residents and local businesses contributing, as a success.

Fullers360 had already met with almost 30 groups, including public and private stakeholders, he said.

Auckland's ferry services were currently contracted out by Auckland Transport (AT) to three operators, Fullers360, SeaLink and Belaire Ferries.

AT media spokesman James Ireland said AT was keen to work with Fullers360 on how private sector investment could be used with public sector investment for the benefit of both organisations.

Suburban ferry terminals lost out under AT's $28 billion Regional Land Transport Plan released in June. A $20.9m ferry terminal at Browns Bay was not funded, nor were $16m and $17m terminals at Pine Harbour and West Harbour respectively.

Proposed new commuter routes

- Te Atatu

- Takapuna

- Browns Bay

- Millwater

- Greenhithe

- Paremoremo

- Herald Island

- Whenuapai

- Panmure

- Point England

- Glen Innes

Proposed tourism routes

- Wynyard Quarter

- Birkenhead

- Devonport

- Hobsonville Point

- Mission Bay

- Rangitoto

- Motutapu Island

- Rakino Island

- Motuihe Island