"Ulmarra Ferry Scheduled for Decommissioning"
"The Ulmarra-Southgate vehicular ferry, which has been in service for 74 years, is set to retire. Its final journey across the Clarence River is scheduled before the last low tide on June 10, 2024. Anna Zycki, Director of Transport for NSW North Region, explained that several factors contributed to this decision, primarily citing low usage, reliability issues, the ferry's age, and the availability of alternative transport routes. One significant challenge is the accumulation of silt on the Southgate side of the river, causing the ferry to be grounded for hours daily.Ms. Zycki elaborated, stating that despite past dredging efforts, the silt buildup persists, proving costly and temporary.
Additionally, the aging ferry's condition necessitates extensive maintenance every three years. However, due to its advanced state of disrepair, a major restoration would take approximately 18 months and cost an estimated $5 million—exceeding the expense of constructing a new ferry by about $1 million.
The decommissioning of vehicular ferries is not uncommon, as evidenced by several others along different routes. The opening of the Balun Bindarray Bridge in Grafton in late 2019 led to a significant decline in Ulmarra ferry usage by 46%. Despite initial anticipation of reduced demand post-bridge, ferry patronage has not rebounded, with only about one vehicle per trip on average, costing taxpayers $22 per journey.
Given its deteriorating state and diminishing necessity compared to the bridge, the decision to decommission the Ulmarra ferry is regrettable but necessary. Transport for NSW acknowledges the community's attachment to the ferry and pledges to collaborate with Clarence Valley Council and locals to honor its longstanding service."