Friday 20 th May 2016 Nicholas Johnston Coles Bay Ferry Pty Ltd 14 Invercargill Road Mount Nelson TAS 7007 Dear Mr Johnston, I am writing on behalf of the Swanwick Community Association (SCA) regarding Coles Bay Ferry Pty Ltd proposal for a Coles Bay Passenger and Vehicular Ferry. The SCA seeks to bring the Swanwick community together to provide a unified community voice to the differing tiers of Government, assist in lobbying for its residents best interests and seeking funding for selected community backed projects. We appreciate the opportunity to voice our opinion and feedback on the concept for a cable driven ferry which would occupy a footprint between Dolphin Sands and Swanwick boat ramp. The meeting held on Wednesday 4 th May 2016 at the proposed site was beneficial for myself and SCA representatives to gain further understanding of the impact the proposal, if to come into reality, would have on the local Swanwick community, residents and environmental landscapes. The Swanwick Community Association do not support the existing Coles Bay Ferry proposal (CBF) presented by Coles Bay Ferry Pty Ltd and its Directors. In response to the CBF proposal document the SCA request supporting documentation in reference to the statements as outlined by Coles Bay Ferry Pty Ltd. Coles Bay Ferry Proposal - point 1 Provide a shorter and safer route for visitors to Coles Bay and Freycinet National Park Documents request: Traffic Incident Report Statistics and research regarding the traffic incidents and safety concerns between Coles Bay and Freycinet National Park to support the proposal of a safer route. Document request: Traffic Management Plan Providing a shorter route for visitors would be dependent on the frequency, hours and days of operation. Will the ferry service be available all year round or only in operation to service tourists? How with the access, parking and general infrastructure be managed. Include ferry schedules and availability to local residents and tourists throughout the year. How are the times comparable to driving, including waiting for the next available service, queuing and driving onto the ferry? With the lack of current parking at Swanwick what provisions are there for parking for both queuing traffic and boat ramp users? As it is currently a major concern with no parking available where do you propose vehicles wait?
How does the ferry provide a safer alternative to visitors? Given the number of vehicles potentially using the CBF what provision is there for road/access upgrade from the main Coles Bay road to the ferry? What route would commuters take to gain access? Any access to the ferry via existing roads passes through residential areas. These roads currently have no footpaths and would need to be upgraded to ensure public safety (particularly children). Who is responsible upgrading for this? And is this an expense you are willing to consider with your proposal or do we assume that Glamorgan Spring Bay Council have accounted for this have when strongly supporting this proposal. Detail surrounding the on-service/transportation of visitors without a vehicle when they arrive at Swanwick. Who transports visitors from the Swanwick Township and how can the current Swanwick infrastructure support bus and bus terminal? What extra consideration has been given to policing the area from Tasmanian Police? The dormant town of Swanwick is currently protected by one way in and out of the township. Coles Bay Ferry Proposal - point 2 Where possible local suppliers will be sourced for the design and construction of ferry and infrastructure Further detail required on the local suppliers and businesses you will be sourcing for the design and construction. Coles Bay Ferry Proposal - point 3 Increased job opportunities in the local community Further detail required on what type of jobs and how many jobs will be available during the construction and operation of the Ferry. What is the sustainability of the employment and projection for growth? Coles Bay Ferry Proposal - point 4 Emergency access and evacuation in response to fires Documentation request: Fire and Safety Plan Supporting documentation required on the proposed fire and safety plan in response to fires including details surrounding the suggested issues with the current fire and safety plan. Coles Bay Ferry Proposal - point 5 Ease of access to May Shaw Health Centre Accident and Emergency Further detail required on how the CBF will ease the access to the May Shaw Health Centre. Life threating injuries or emergencies are currently flown via helicopter, therefore are SCA interpreting that ease of access is just suggesting a convenience.
Coles Bay Ferry Proposal - point 6 Reduce response times in emergency situations Documentation request: Emergency Response Plan Supporting documentation required to support how the CBF can reduce the current helicopter response time in emergency situations. Coles Bay Ferry Proposal - point 7 Allow for an increase in visitor numbers in the area Further detail to understand how National Parks and Glamorgan Spring Bay Council would intend to manage the increase in numbers to Swanwick Township and national parks. Whilst visitors may increase, the impact will reduce accommodation demand given the shorter access times which will impact heavily of the Swanwick tourism accommodation. The CBF will also bypass visitors from the Freycinet Marine Farm and major vineyard cellar doors between Coles Bay junction and Swansea. Parking is also currently a major issue in the national park and an increase would result in turning more people away in peak times. Coles Bay Ferry Proposal - point 8 Increased accommodation options for Coles Bay / Freycinet area Further information required, detailing how the CBF can increase accommodation option in Coles Bay and Swanwick areas. Due to the shorter access times of the CBF, would the demand for local accommodation required decrease? Coles Bay Ferry Proposal - point 9 Enhance visitor experience of Great Eastern Drive How would the CBF across the proposed footprint enhance the Great Eastern Drive? The CBF alternative route would bypass in both directions key local and small such businesses as; Cherry Tree Hill, Freycinet Marine Farm and vineyard cellars doors including Spring Vale, Milton, Devils Corner, Gala and Freycinet. Further information required detailing how the businesses on the Great Eastern Drive will be receive an increase in visitors when an alternative route is available resulting in a reduced amount of drive by traffic, which they so heavily rely on. Coles Bay Ferry Proposal - point 10 Potential for tourism operators to expand their tours to include more attractions Further detailed required to outline how to tourism operators in the area can expand their tours to include more attractions?
Additional CBF proposal concerns to be addressed: Costings Documentation request: Project costing report Costing report required outlining the costs involved to the community both local and visiting during the design, build and operation of the CBF. Is the CBF a free public service as an extension of the state road system? What are the costs for visitors comparable to local residents throughout the peak and off peak seasons? Including vehicles, passengers, animals and cargo. Comparable costs of driving the current route to the proposed CBF footprint? Comparable costs incurred with CBF to current procedure during an emergency and fire evacuation Environmental Impact Document request: Environmental Impact A ssessment How does the CBF proposal take into consideration the safety and impact of the local Swanwick community? What is the impact on local residents for fishing, recreational boat users and kayak operators who use the area around the boat ramp and beachfront access? Environmental Impact Assessment to include the noise pollution of the CBF. What consideration has been given to residents of Swanwick and what decibel reading is recommended that the CBF ferry horn if applicable may measure at? Environmental Impact Assessment to also include detail surrounding the following CBF cable concerns: When cable is tight what measures are to be put in place to ensure marine traffic does not become tangled in the slack cable or hit the tight cable. How does the CBF intend on ensuring the safety of mariners that may come into contact with proposed cables. Who is responsible and liable for damages caused by CBF and related cables? What impact do the installation and operation of CBF cables have on the marine bed and to natural marine life in the area? How are the CBF cables kept lubricated, and what impact does this have on the area and what risk does this pose. Swanwick Characteristics and Profile Attached is an extract from the Coles Bay Township Structure Plan April 2016 that outlines the local area objective for Swanwick. Referencing the Structure Plan April 2016, please respond to the following questions: How does a cable driven ferry retain the residential character of Swanwick? How does a cable driven and land secured ferry protect the coastal fauna, flora, historic cultural sites and costal forms? The township structure plan states Further linear development along the coastline is not permitted how does a cable driven ferry not diminish this statement. How is pedestrian access not disadvantaged in an already congested area that is already utilised by commercial, residential, and visiting pedestrians on a daily basis? How does the Coles bay cable ferry proposal have a minimalised visual impact on the area?
Coles Bay Township Structure Plan April 2016 9.10 Future Character Statements (Page 47) As part of the revision to the Glamorgan Spring Bay Planning Scheme future character statements around each township are provided. These statements will help to define the future character of the town retaining key features, desired characteristics and promoting preferred development styles. 9.10.2 Swanwick Swanwick is a small residential village with strong links to the foreshore and estuaries of the Moulting Lagoon. It is characterised by a leafy holiday and retirement feel with limited services available to local residents or tourists. New development along Hazards View Drive has started to change the face of the town with a number of dual occupancy dwellings and smaller lots increasing the population and need for services and facilities. The vision for Swanwick is to retain the existing seaside village characteristics while continuing to improve and gradually develop the town for local and seasonal residents, retirees and the holiday market. The high proportion of seasonally occupied dwellings should be acknowledged and this unique situation explored, identifying tourism and community opportunities. The focus on Moulting Lagoon should be retained as with the coastal outlook, maintaining and upgrading the existing boat ramp and beachfront access and protecting the special estuary environments present. A small local business precinct should be encouraged and designed to fit in with the local character, catering for residents and the holiday market however should not detract from the existing tourism market in Coles Bay. Further residential and holiday market development will continue to grow around the Freycinet Golf Club area with potential expansion areas to the south and east of the township. Utmost care should be taken in the design of any future development area to minimise the visual and environmental impacts of development on this unique and unspoiled coastline. The Swanwick character statement outlined in the Interim Planning Scheme is noted as: (a) Recognise Swanwick has limited services but there is some opportunity for further limited tourism accommodation. (b) Development is to be restricted to the existing approved and developed area. (c) Coastal fauna and flora, historic cultural sites and coastal forms are to be protected. (d) Further linear development along the coastline is not permitted. (e) Ensure that pedestrian access to the foreshore is maintained, but managed to ensure minimal environmental damage occurs. (f) Through careful design and siting minimise the visual impacts of development on the coastline.
Once again on behalf of the Swanwick Community Association we would like to thank you opportunity to express our options and concerns regarding the current proposal by Coles Bay Ferry Pty Ltd. The proposed Coles Bay Ferry dramatically impacts the small town of Swanwick and we request that the points outlined in this document are seriously considered. Kind regards Robert Frost Swanwick Community Association