Mayor and MP continue fight for ferry

By Tim Howard

The NSW Government needs to overturn its decision to decommission the Ulmarra Ferry says Clarence Valley mayor Peter Johnstone.

Cr Johnstone said a motion urging the government to abandon its plan to end the 130-year-old service on June 10 would come to next week’s Clarence Valley Council.

Cr Johnstone also revealed the full letter he received from the NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison, giving her reasons for the closure.

The mayor said he’d met the minister shortly before the announcement of the closure was released.

“She was really well informed about the closure, so it was obviously something that had been in the works for a long time,” he said.

“Her arguments were very similar to those presented by Transport for NSW when it announced the ferry would be decommissioned.

Cr Johnstone said it was very disappointing the needs of a local community had been ignored, a view also shared by Clarence MP Richie Williamson.

The Member for Clarence Richie Williamson in NSW Parliament with petitions containing 6000 signatures, to save the Ulmarra Ferry, which will be decommissioned on June 10.

Last week Mr Williamson took a petition signed by 6000 Clarence residents against the NSW Government’s shocking choice to sink the Ulmarra to Southgate ferry service into NSW Parliament.

He said the arguments in the petition should be enough for the government to reverse the decision, told the NSW Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

“When the Government drove the last nail into the coffin by axing the Ulmarra Ferry service that had served the community for 100 years, I can only imagine the letdown, the disappointment, the disengagement and the sheer disbelief, just to save a few dollars, whilst those in the metropolitan area continue to have their transport subsidised by the public purse,” Mr Williamson said.

He revealed that in addition to the 6000-strong signature petition, he had received countless written messages from locals – all against Labor’s cost cutting.

These messages included statement like these.

“Our business operates a logging and sawmilling business in the Ulmarra area, and this ferry service is absolutely essential for us to be able to continue with our business,” a local family firm wrote.

A man called Bill wrote “In these times of escalating costs and high petrol prices, we deserve a trip that now takes us four kilometres. That is compared to the 62 kilometres the new trip would take.”

“Losing this vital piece of infrastructure will destroy our tiny community,” Shelley wrote.

Bobbie wrote, “I write in support of your petition, Mr Williamson. It is unfair that regional residents have to pay just to get to work—an extra 64 kilometres for me in my round trip.”

Mr Williamson said he was surprised at government boasts that the Labor Party represents the bush and the country.

“Where I come from, that is not the community sentiment,” he said.

“They are disappointed in the decision that has taken place and hurt by the lack of community consultation. They are urging the Minister, as I am, to reconsider her decision,” Mr Williamson said.

“The community of Ulmarra and Southgate feel bitterly let down by the Government.”

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