Port Macquarie Hastings Council is programming for the Settlement Point Ferry to be returned to its base on Monday, 18 December, following a thorough service period out of the water.
To afford the community the appropriate amount of time to plan their travel ahead of next week, Council offers the following information regarding the Settlement Point Ferry recommissioning service and the change-over process for the Hibbard Ferry.
On Monday morning at approximately 9am, the Hibbard Ferry will relocate from Settlement Point to the Hibbard crossing, with the intention of having the regular Hibbard Ferry service in operation from midday. The last run from the North Shore to Settlement Point will be at 8:50am.
Once the Hibbard Ferry is operational, the decision to tow the Settlement Point Ferry will be conditional upon a favourable tidal current and the strength of winds. Provided conditions are considered safe, it is Council’s aim to have the Settlement Point service restored by late afternoon.
If conditions are considered unsafe to relocate the Settlement Point Ferry, then Council will plan to carry out this task early Tuesday morning when conditions may be more favourable. Council will provide traffic control at the Hibbard Ferry on the Hastings River Drive side to assist ferry users on Monday afternoon and into Tuesday, if required.
Once the Settlement Point Ferry is recommissioned, several ‘dry run’ tests without passengers will be conducted between Settlement Point and the North Shore to ensure the service is in appropriate working order.
Marine Rescue will be on standby to support the management of any emergency issues that occur while the Hibbard Ferry is out of operation (in the event of an emergency dial 000). However, Marine Rescue will be available to transfer pedestrians between Settlement Point and North Shore during this time with a limit of six passengers per trip.
Council asks ferry users to please have suitable alternative travel arrangements for Monday, should there be any unforeseen issues.
