A second protest to save Manly Ferries was held at Manly Wharf last night, this time by a different group demanding that all four Freshwater class vessels to be retained.
It was reported just this morning that Transport Minister Andrew Constance is “looking into” retaining a second large ferry for weekend use following an initial protest led by Manly MP James Griffin last Thursday.
But last night’s collective said weekend-only use with half of the existing fleet would not suffice.
The rally was organised by Sue Barsi, who is a public health, education and transport activist and active Labor member.
Manly vale couple Bonnie and Michael Gibbons (Bonnie pictured with her daughter Daisy, 5), said they were attending the rally because the iconic large ferries meant a lot to them. Bonnie, who used to live across the road from the wharf, said they were a large part of Manly’s identity and she was concerned that the newer, smaller vessels would not handle as well near the heads and were an unnecessary risk when the four incumbent ships were still fit for purpose.
Attendees, about thirty in total, included some official Labor and Greens volunteers, by-standers joining in from the wharf, and Manly residents from the Save Manly Ferries committee, led by Deputy Mayor Candy Bingham.
Protestors travelled by ferry to Circular Quay to meet another cohort of supporters.
