Call for Glenelg terminal to include plans for Yorke Peninsula ferry

Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis MP has joined the call for a ferry terminal to be incorporated in any plans for a major upgrade of Glenelg jetty, believing re-commencing a ferry service to Yorke Peninsula would be a game changer for the local and state’s tourism industry.

The State Government last week announced it had commissioned a study into options for a $110 million Glenelg jetty redevelopment, which prompted public comments from Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly that provision for a new ferry terminal be considered in the planning process.

Past proposals for a Glenelg upgrade have featured a ferry berth, and Mr Ellis foresees exciting potential for Yorke Peninsula tourism should such a plan proceed.

“It has been 21 years since the Enigma III passenger ferry service from Glenelg to Edithburgh was unsuccessfully trialled, stopped only due to repeated sand and seagrass ingress into the Patawalonga and sediment build-up that required dredging too often, but it is time to look at it again”, Mr Ellis said.

“The service was very well received and ran from February 1998 for nearly 12 months.

“The vision was for a ferry service from Glenelg to Edithburgh to Kingscote return on Saturdays, Sundays and Thursdays but despite all efforts had to be abandoned due to the harbour blockages at the Glenelg end.

“Getting such a ferry service right would provide a good return on regional development and tourism investment funding, creating a lot of small business local jobs for a massive economic injection for the Yorke Peninsula region.

“Ideally, a vehicle and passenger service would then link to the Wallaroo to Lucky Bay ferry terminals, connecting our tourism region to Eyre Peninsula.

“I have made a submission to the underway study looking at options for the redevelopment of Glenelg Jetty, and have formally corresponded on the topic with the Member for Morphett Stephen Patterson, Mayor Pengilly and the Minister for Transport & Infrastructure Stephan Knoll”, Mr Ellis said.