Perth Voice Interactive

A plan for a ferry from Banks Reserve in Mt Lawley looks to be dead in the water.

Vincent councillor John Pintabona had hoped a service from the under-used jetty could head past the proposed Burswood stadium and into Perth, helping ease congestion.

But both state’s transport planners say they have no plans for a ferry in that area “in the foreseeable future”.

A decade ago the state’s planning and infrastructure department dipped a toe in the water but found expanding ferry services to the area was unviable.

That situation hasn’t changed, a Vincent city council report stated at this week’s meeting.

Cr Matt Buckels had earlier predicted the ferry wouldn’t go ahead, calling the plan “a lovely intention but… a complete waste of time”. He reckoned the lack of demand would mean the state wouldn’t be interested, earning him the nickname “ferry grinch” from colleague Ros Harley.

Vincent will ask the Barnett government not to rule out a ferry in future planning for the Banks Reserve area.

Cr Josh Topelberg said it was unlikely he’d see a ferry in his lifetime.

“It’s certainly clear with the current densities there’s no way this would work at Banks Reserve at this point,” mayor Alannah MacTiernan said.

by DAVID BELL