NEWS DESK
Partners saddle up across south east
New boat: An artist’s impression of the MV Naturaliste being built in Perth which is scheduled to start in September.
Searoad wins Western Port ferry contract Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au SEAROAD Ferries has won a lucrative contract to run the Western Port ferry service between French Island, Phillip Island and Stony Point. The company, trading as Western Port Ferries, will run the service for five years from Saturday 1 July. The existing operator, Inter Island Ferries – whose contract ends on that day – is believed to carry about 32,000 passengers a year. Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan says she “expects that number to rise under the new operator”. Searoad Ferries says it aims to increase the number of services by more than 30 per cent, including a new daily service direct from Stony Point
to Phillip Island, with the new 95 passenger, 18-metre vessel MV Naturaliste when it starts in September. In the interim, the company has bought the 12 metre former dive boat Island Explorer, which will begin taking passengers on Saturday. “This is an exciting opportunity for Searoad Ferries,” CEO Matt McDonald said. “We look forward to providing a safe and reliable service that meets the needs of the local communities through our new Western Port Ferries operation.” Established in 1983, Searoad Ferries has been running the SorrentoQueenscliff car ferry service with two vessels for many years. Inter Island Ferries proprietor Frank Denvir, who held the contract for the past 22 years, said he had “no regrets” about not bidding for the new contract
with five-year option. “If I took on another five-year contract I would be 77 and I have better things to do with my time,” he said. He said “no one” could reasonably be expected to comply with the PTV tender requirements because of the unpredictable weather and large tide discrepancy in Western Port. “They say the ferry must run 95 per cent of the time, but that cannot be done. Over the past 22 years we have had a 90 per cent adherence rate to the time table,” Mr Denvir said. “I was quite happy plodding along, but how can you fight time and tide?” Ms Allan said the government was “making sure locals have more reliable and regular services from French Island, Phillip Island and Stony Point”.
A NEW era of “cooperation” between the state government and councils across Melbourne’s suburbs has been heralded with the formation of six metropolitan partnerships by the government. The groups are “a new platform for cooperative engagement between governments, business and communities” according to Labor Suburban Development Minister Lily D’Ambrosio. A Southern Partnership representing Kingston, Frankston, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Casey, Dandenong and Greater Dandenong councils appointed Dr Elizabeth Deveny as chair this month. Dr Deveny is CEO of the South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network. South East Local Learning and Employment Network CEO Andrew Simmons has been appointed deputy chair. Council CEOs will represent local government at a minimum of four meetings each year to work on a fiveyear plan to prioritise regional needs “so that all Melburnians have access to the jobs, services and local infrastructure they need”. Mornington Peninsula Shire CEO Carl Cowie will represent council at the partnership meetings. He said councillors had been briefed about the partnership in a statement provided to The News. Ms D’Ambrosio said: “Working together can only mean more opportunities for local economies and
the jobs that come with them.” The six metropolitan partnership groups are gathered under the umbrella of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. “At the induction day on 9 June, the Minister for Suburban Development, Lily D’Ambrosio, and the Special Minister for State, Gavin Jennings, expressed their thanks to all partnership members and in particular, those members of the community volunteering their time and energy for better outcomes across Melbourne’s regions,” department spokesman David McNamara said. Mr McNamara confirmed chairs, deputy chairs, council CEOs and members are not remunerated for their contribution to the partnerships. “Members are eligible to be reimbursed for reasonable travel and other expenses that they incur that are directly related to their service on their partnership.” He said there were hundreds of applicants for chair and deputy chair positions after the roles were advertised late last year. “The members offer a breadth of experience across a number of social, community and business sectors including health, education, social services, multicultural affairs, industry, small business and manufacturing.” Neil Walker
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NEPEAN H ARING “Hear to help” Western Port News 27 June 2017
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