One ferry stops while other continues

One ferry service from Palm Beach to the Peninsula was closed, while the other continued to operate during the Palm Beach lockdown, according to Central Coast Local Health District.

Palm Beach has been in lockdown since before Christmas as part of control measures for the Avalon cluster.

Restrictions were expected to be lifted today, Monday, January 11.

"There are two ferry services that run between the Northern Beaches and Central Coast," said Health District acting chief executive Ms Kate Lyons.

"Both are privately operated.

"The services transport passengers from Palm Beach to Patonga, and Palm Beach to Ettalong via Wagstaffe," Ms Lyons said.

"The Palm Beach to Patonga ferry ceased operating during the lockdown and remains suspended until further notice.

"The Palm Beach to Ettalong service continued to run for essential transport reasons, operating at greatly reduced capacity and adhering to Covid safety measures."

She said health district staff had "conducted regular compliance inspections of that ferry over the holiday period to support the operator in maintaining COVID safe practices".

The staff had "worked closely with both ferry operators from the time the Avalon cluster was confirmed", she said.

SOURCE:

Media statement, 6 Jan 2021

Kate Lyons, CCLHD