After more than a decade's absence, ferries will again serve Balmain West Wharf (Elliott Street) from Monday 18 August.
Fulfilling a Labor election promise, weekday peak services will connect the Balmain peninsula to Barangaroo and Circular Quay as well as west to Drummoyne, Huntleys Point and Chiswick.
The Liberals pulled the plug on services to Balmain West in 2013 as part of cost-cutting on the F8 Cockatoo Island ferry route. A ferry from the wharf saves 20 minutes compared to a peak hour bus to the CBD.
The Minns Labor Government began work in November last year to prepare the wharf for the return of services, with final touches on the installation of Opal ticketing, CCTV, improved safety features, and real-time passenger information systems happening ahead of 18 August.
Four additional weekday services at Balmain West will operate as part of the F3 Parramatta River route from:
- Chiswick - Circular Quay at 5.50am, 6.50am, 7.50am and 8.50am
- Circular Quay - Chiswick at 3.12pm, 4.12pm, 5.12pm and 6.12pm
All new services will stop at Barangaroo, Drummoyne and Huntleys Point. There will be no services from this wharf on weekends.
These new trips are in addition to the 14 additional weekday services and 26 weekend services added to the F3 route in 2024.
In April, the Minns Labor Government delivered on another election promise by Pyrmont adding a ferry stop at Pirrama Park in Pyrmont to the F10 ferry route.
The F10 is being integrated into Sydney's ferry network, with planning underway to incorporate it into the Opal network by early next year.
Once complete, passengers will be able to make the most of Opal benefits like discounts when transferring between modes and the $50 fare cap.
Minister for Transport John Graham said:
"Labor promised the people of Balmain that we would bring back the weekday commute from the wharf at Elliot Street and now we deliver on that promise.
"Every ferry passenger departing and returning here is one less car on the busy Inner West road network or one less person vying for a seat on a bus.
"This wharf means a lot to the Balmain community and services resuming will save people 20 minutes compared to a bus trip to the CBD in the peak."
