Cowes to Stony Point Vehicle Ferry Business Case Discussion Paper
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EarthCheck Consulting, for Bass Coast Shire Council and Mornington Peninsula Shire Cowes to Stony Point Vehicle Ferry Business Case Discussion Paper November 2017 EarthCheck Consulting, for Bass Coast Shire Council and Mornington Peninsula Shire Executive Summary The concept of a vehicle and passenger ferry linking the o An estimated 166,179 additional passengers in Mornington Peninsula with Phillip Island has been the 2025 plus the 60,000 existing passenger ferry users. subject of frequent discussion since preliminary feasibility studies were undertaken in the mid-1990s. The forecast additional passengers will likely be a mix of Additional Day and Overnight Visitors (66.8%) and a Regional Development Victoria, Bass Coast Shire smaller percentage of New Touring Visitors (33.2%) Council and the Mornington Peninsula Shire have spending up to an additional $18.85M per annum. commissioned this independent review of the feasibility of a vehicle ferry to access the Business Case in light of With input from the community and from case studies a a number of contributing factors: number of key issues have been identified that must be addressed in the Draft Business Case. o Increasing visitor numbers to the region; o The opportunity to create a world-famous While the overall industry and community response has touring route; been positive, further community engagement is o Pressures on emergency response and crisis needed to ensure a full response. The general concept events, particularly on Phillip Island; of a car ferry has 84% support from online survey o The potential for increased employment and respondents, and 62.5% of visitors indicating that they education opportunities; and would use a vehicle ferry, its location and the impacts o The potential for a vehicle ferry to be a vital of development and operation are yet to be defined link in the public transport network. and must be rigorously assessed in the Draft Business Case. The key issues identified, include: This Discussion Paper summarises the findings to date from the first round of industry and community o Environmental impacts of the development consultation and invites input to the Draft Business and operation of the ferry (marine strike, Case. The Paper also summarises the currently available coastal erosion, the need for dredging, impacts information on the demand model and economic on sensitive marine and terrestrial ecosystems impact studies for input. This Discussion Paper aims to including noise and light); summarise the key inputs to the Draft Business Case o Social impacts (traffic, congestion, emergency seeking industry and community input on the findings evacuation, visual amenity, and impacts on the to guide the Draft Business Case (to be released early in adjacent residents and land owners from the 2018). final agreed terminal locations; and o Economic impacts both positive (job creation, The Draft Business Case will be based on three improved access to employment and operating options: education, and visitor expenditure) as well as negative effects (cost of the project, including 1) Status Quo (no car ferry, passenger ferry as consultant reports and possible ongoing costs current); to the community). 2) Car & Passenger Ferry to Stony Point, Cowes and Tankerton (French Island); and A variety of potential sites have been examined at 3) Car & Passenger Ferry (Stony Point to Cowes) Cowes and Stony Point and options considered for and Passenger Ferry only to Tankerton. Tankerton (French Island). Due to the complexities of each site, further technical work is required to ensure The Draft Business Case assessment of traffic, that the final site selected is ecologically sound, socially environmental, social and economic impacts will be acceptable, and operationally feasible. based on the demand model assumptions of: o 36 car vehicle ferry with capacity for 300 Inputs to the Draft Business Case, based on passengers. o 10 sailings per day, 365 days per year. information provided in this document, are o Annual ferry capacity of 131,400 vehicles, operating encouraged and should be emailed to at 39.9% of capacity (52,468 vehicles) in 2025. [email protected]. Cowes to Stony Point Vehicle Ferry Business Case | Discussion Paper 2 EarthCheck Consulting, for Bass Coast Shire Council and Mornington Peninsula Shire Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ 2 SETTING THE SCENE ............................................................................................................................ 5 1.0 Background ................................................................................................................................ 6 1.1. Review of Previous Reports .................................................................................................... 6 1.2. Other Reports ......................................................................................................................... 7 1.3. Victorian Government ............................................................................................................ 8 1.4. Mornington Peninsula Shire ................................................................................................... 8 1.5. Bass Coast Shire Council ......................................................................................................... 8 1.6. Regional Tourism Organisations ............................................................................................. 8 1.7. Implications for the Business Case ......................................................................................... 8 2.0 Stage One Consultation ............................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Consultation Process Overview .............................................................................................. 9 2.2 Summary of Consultation to Date ........................................................................................10 2.3 Resident Survey Results ........................................................................................................12 2.4 Bass Coast Shire ....................................................................................................................12 2.5 Mornington Peninsula Shire .................................................................................................13 2.6 French Island .........................................................................................................................13 2.7 Support from Industry ..........................................................................................................15 2.8 Social Media..........................................................................................................................16 2.9 Direct feedback via phone, post or email .............................................................................16 2.10 Tally Sheet Survey .................................................................................................................16 2.11 Implications for the Business Case .......................................................................................16 DEMAND MODEL ............................................................................................................................. 17 3.0 Passenger Ferry Demand Model ................................................................................................ 18 3.1 The Current Passenger Ferry ................................................................................................18 3.2 Walk-on Passenger Demand .................................................................................................18 3.3 Implications for the Draft Business Case ..............................................................................18 3.4 Vehicle Ferry Demand Model ...............................................................................................19 3.5 Preliminary Economic Impact Analysis - Cowes to Stony Point Vehicle Ferry ......................22 TECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS ............................................................................................................ 28 4.0 Technical Investigations .............................................................................................................. 29 4.1 Creating an Iconic Touring Route .........................................................................................29 4.2 Case Studies ..........................................................................................................................30 4.2.1 In Depth Case Study 1 – Sealink Ferries Auckland, New Zealand .........................................30 4.2.2 In Depth Case Study 2 – Searoad Ferries Queenscliff to Sorrento, Victoria, Australia .........35 4.2.3 Kettering - Bruny Bay Ferry Service, Tasmania .....................................................................37 4.2.4 Coastal Circle Route, British Columbia .................................................................................37 Cowes to Stony Point Vehicle Ferry Business Case | Discussion Paper 3 EarthCheck Consulting, for Bass Coast Shire Council and Mornington Peninsula Shire 4.2.5 Helgelandskysten, Norway ...................................................................................................37 4.2.6 The Wild Atlantic Way,