Some ferry good reasons to shut down the service for 10 days
Shire transport
The Daintree River Ferry will be out of action for a minimum of 10 days when the new replacement ferry is brought in, a Douglas Shire Council information session has heard.
NSW maritime engineering company Birdon is set to take over operations of the Daintree River service from this July, with the new ferry expected to hit the water at the end of 2027.
Nearly 30 Daintree Coast residents attended the community information session on the Daintree ferry replacement project.
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The session included a panel of representatives from the DSC, contractor Durack Civil and Birdon.
The minimum 10-day full ferry closure would be needed to install new ramps and cables, while there would also be a mandatory 14-day closure every five years to conduct surveys, the meeting heard.
Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said there was a strong turnout.
“We know how important the ferry is for daily life north of the river, whether it’s getting to school, work, medical appointments or running a business,” Mayor Scomazzon said.
“It was great to see so many people come along to hear the latest updates, ask questions and be part of the conversation.”
The new four-lane ferry will be about 50m long and more than 15m wide, and is designed to carry 36 cars - nine more than can currently travel across.
Residents can visit the council’s project page at douglas.qld.gov.au to learn more about the ferry replacement project.
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