Meeting Minutes Bruny Island Ferry Reference Group - Meeting 21
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Meeting Minutes Bruny Island Ferry Reference Group – Meeting 21 Date: Wednesday, 3 March 2021 Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Location: Jane Finn Room, Bruny Island Health Centre, Alonnah Attendees: Trevor Adams Chair, Bruny Island Ferry Reference Group Paul Davis Bruny Island Ferry Reference Group Mathew Fagan Bruny Island Ferry Reference Group Alan Gluyas Bruny Island Ferry Reference Group Siobhan Gaskell Bruny Island Ferry Reference Group Lindon Haigh Bruny Island Ferry Reference Group Bernice Woolley Bruny Island Ferry Reference Group Belinda Loxley Kingborough Council Tania Matthews General Manager – Tasmania, SeaLink Nicole Trounce Assistant Director Public Transport, State Growth Ian Booth A/G Project Management Team Leader, Project Services, State Growth Mat Kluver Senior Contracts Officer, State Growth Post-Meeting Update (12 April 2021): This Communique reflects the information current at the time the meeting was held on 3 March 2021. There has been some delay in publishing this Communique and where information has changed, an update has been provided. Summary of community Question and Answer (Q&A) session held prior to the BIFRG meeting On 3 March 2021, 23 community members attended the Q&A session. The community asked questions about the ongoing infrastructure works, the booking system and general ferry operations. Attached to the communique is a summary of questions asked and responses provided at this meeting. Some questions and responses have been edited or combined for brevity and clarity. The responses reflect the position at the time of the meeting.
Item Agenda Item Action
1) Introduction and apologies
• The Chair opened the meeting at 9.40 am.
2) Confirmation of minutes of the previous meeting
• The minutes and communique of the previous meeting were
confirmed via email on 23 November 2021.
3) Community Matters
• Booking System Discussions
o SeaLink explained that it was progressing the booking system
and App.
o The BIFRG members, with the support of various Bruny
Island groups, has written to the Minister for Infrastructure
and Transport requesting that the implementation of a
booking system be abandoned.
o The BIFRG broadly discussed the booking system. Members
raised concerns about:
uncertainty of how the system will operate
how vehicles longer than 6m will be catered for
whether passengers could make last-minute bookings
whether passenger will be able to reschedule if they
miss a booked crossing for any reason
how SeaLink will prevent business operators from
booking all available spots
how the system will work operationally within the
terminal areas, and
whether the booking system may deter visitors or
tourists who haven’t booked.
o UPDATE: The Minister responded to the letter on 8 April
2021.
• Vessel capacity
o A question was asked about the carrying capacity of the
second new vessel.
o SeaLink explained that with the two new vessels operating at
the same time, and an increase in the speed and turnaround
time, there will be the potential for more departures and
more overall capacity daily (measured in lane metres). This
will allow SeaLink to respond to growing demand, which will
benefit the whole community. Bowen will be available to
provide further capacity where demand warrants it.
o Operationally, the actual vehicle capacity will always depend
on the type and length of vehicles carried on a particular
crossing. Nairana and Parrabah are not limited by the height
of vehicles that they can carry.Item Agenda Item Action
• Order of unloading vehicles
o A question was asked about the order of unloading vehicles,
and in particular, whether residents and other cars could be
unloaded before slower vehicles, such as trucks or vehicles
towing caravans. SeaLink advised that the logistics of loading
and unloading vehicles can be difficult, and the order can
depend on the mass, length and width of a vehicle. SeaLink
endeavours to unload vehicles in the same order that they
were loaded, which at times includes slower vehicles later in
the load where practical.
4) SeaLink Service Update
• Peak season update
o For the period December 2020 to February 2021, overall
total vehicle numbers were down on previous years, however
resident and landowner travel was higher than the equivalent
period in the previous year.
o SeaLink advised that it will continue to operate the current
timetable until after Easter 2021. Information about changes
to the timetable when the two new vessels are in service will
be provided as soon as practicable.
o In response to a question raised about how SeaLink assesses
whether to operate the current 6:30 pm ‘on-demand’ service,
SeaLink responded that it usually runs on a Friday, and on
other days only as required.
o SeaLink advised that it hands out Bruny Island Tourism Inc.
maps at the ticket booth. SeaLink is a major sponsor of the
tourism maps, and prints and distributes the maps with more
than 14,000 distributed in the past month.
o A question was asked about whether SeaLink is unofficially
allowing some passengers priority over others. SeaLink
explained that it only provides priority to passengers under
the terms of its contract (i.e. for the school bus, emergency
services and other urgent medical matters).
• New vessel update
o The second new vessel has been painted and is on the water.
Sea trials will occur towards the end of March 2021, and
handover is expected to occur after Easter 2021, at which
time the Nairana will be removed to undergo alterations to
enable it to be used on both the current ramp and the new
ramp when construction is complete. The alterations will
increase its loading and unloading capabilities and compatibility
with the new ramp infrastructure.
o The Mirambeena and the second new vessel will provide the
ferry service, supported by the Bowen (as needed). Once the
Nairana returns to the service, the Mirambeena will be ceaseItem Agenda Item Action
to provide the service. State Growth is currently considering
options for the future of the Mirambeena.
o UPDATE: The new vessel has been named Parrabah and was
delivered to Kettering on 13 April 2021.
• Bowen Update
o In response to feedback from the BIFRG, SeaLink is installing
fabric deflectors near the loading ramps of Bowen to reduce
the impact of spray onto the vehicle deck. SeaLink has already
installed noise suppression mufflers on the Bowen to reduce
its operating noise.
• Resident and Landowner Stickers
o SeaLink advised that all correctly submitted sticker
applications have now been processed. Where insufficient or
incorrect information was provided, SeaLink has responded to
applicants to seek the required information. SeaLink is
progressively starting to cancel stickers which have now
expired.
5) State Growth Update
• Infrastructure Update
o State Growth advised that the terminal infrastructure upgrade
works are scheduled for completion in mid-2021.
o The marine works started on 9 March 2021. These works
involve the installation of socketed piles to support the
concrete pile caps that will in turn support the new steel
loading ramp and fenders. Piling works will be conducted from
a marine barge and mobile cranes will be utilised throughout
the process. The marine works will not interrupt the current
ferry service and the emergency vessel berth located at
Roberts Point will remain in service at all times during
construction.
o There will be some temporary traffic changes to ensure the
safety of workers and road users during the works. Lane
closures and a reduced speed limit will be in place during
work hours and may affect travel times.
o The work will also involve the use of machinery which
generates some noise. Contractors will make every effort to
minimise noise by turning off machinery and vehicles
whenever possible.
o SeaLink will operate to its usual timetables throughout
construction, though at times there will be more heavy
vehicles either at the ferry terminals or on the ferry than
usual.Item Agenda Item Action
o A BIFRG member raised concerns about the safety of the
worksites at Roberts Point and Kettering. State Growth
committed to raising the concerns with the relevant
contractors.
6) Other Business
• No other business was raised.
7) Review agreed actions from the previous meeting
• There were no open actions from the previous meeting.
8) Next meeting
• The next BIFRG meeting will be held in mid-2021. Dates and location
details will be published on SeaLink’s BIFRG webpage prior to the
meeting.
Meeting closed at 11:40 pm.LIST OF AGREED ACTIONS
Action Due
Responsibility Agreed Actions Status
Item Date
#21-1 DSG DSG to respond to community questions Meeting Open
about modelling data 22
#21-2 DSG DSG to discuss the concerns raised about Meeting Open
the safety of the worksites at Roberts 22
Point and Kettering with relevant the
contractors.You can also read
