Contract awarded in bid to return ferry to private hands
Daintree travel
The company behind the latest Sydney Harbour ferries has been chosen to design, build and operate the new Daintree River Ferry.
Ship-builder Birdon, which has contracts with companies across the world in both the defence and private sector and operates seven car ferries in NSW, was selected from a range of applicants by Douglas Shire Council during confidential council meetings across past months.
The new Daintree ferry - which will be four-lanes wide and include expanded approach areas and a priority lane for local traffic - will be privately owned and operated under a 20-year agreement, but the contract details and price are being kept under wraps.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon told a council meeting yesterday the awarding of the contract was “quite exciting”.
“This will be one of our biggest contracts that we’ve ever done and probably will ever do,” Mayor Scomazzon said.
“It’s not an easy contract.
“But I truly believe that the outcome is the best for this Shire.”
Cr Abigail Noli said the day put an end to “many years of frustration” where she had personally been “ridiculed” for the way the former ferry sale in 2021 had been handled, which included a “blunder” by past council leadership.
Deputy Mayor Roy Zammataro said the decision had been a “long time in the making”.
“Since Council resolved to purchase the Daintree ferry it’s placed a significant financial strain on ratepayers,” Cr Zammataro said.
“Not only due to the initial purchase price, but also the ongoing maintenance costs of an ageing vessel.”
The transfer of the ferry back into private hands has been a key issue for Cr Zammataro for years.
Ferry privatisation was one of his main election platforms at the most recent council elections in 2024.
In 2023 Cr Zammataro said the Council had been making close to $1m per year profit before the ferry was privatised, but now “any profit that is made is going to be used on maintenance”.
“It’s a financial disaster for Council and for the Shire,” he said at the time.
While owned by Douglas Shire Council, the Daintree Ferry - a three-lane vessel which can carry about 27 cars - is operated by TNQ Transport Services.
New contractor Birdon is a private company which was founded close to 50 years ago in Port Macquarie, NSW, but now has operations across the world including on the Gold Coast.
The contract for the design and construction of the landings has been awarded to Durack Civil.
Completion of the project and the arrival of the new ferry are scheduled for December 2027.
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