‘Clear’ case for creating city ferry service

• Published date: 24 June 2022

The Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty Ferries Feasibility Study was due to considered at a Bay of Plenty Regional Council Public Transport Committee meeting yesterday

In a report, council team leader of service planning and project delivery Oliver Haycock said a ferry service would have lower greenhouse gas emissions per passenger kilometre than other transport modes and it would reduce road congestion.

But any progress on the idea had multiple “issues and risks”, Haycock said.

“There is no ‘risk-free, low cost’ option that could be delivered in the short-term that would likely be attractive for customers.”

The service’s success would depend on factors including service frequency, how it compared to other transport modes, and supporting infrastructures such as wharf upgrades and parking, he said.

Haycock said that going ahead without the infrastructure upgrades was a risk.

They would be the responsibility of the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and the Tauranga City Council, and funding was expected in their 2026-2030 budgets.

For the Ōmokoroa-CBD route, estimated capital costs to establish the service ranged from $4m for an hourly peak time weekday service to about $9m for a 30-minute daily...