Could Ferries be part of the public transport solution for Canberra?

dungfungus said :

It exists! Jet powered too with an open roof.
http://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/power-and-propulsion/centas_sounds_of_silence_for_amphibious_jet_bus

It’s also a lame duck which is a good stablemate for the white elephant (aka light rail)

Looks like it didn’t take off, which is a shame. It would have been cool to see ACTION buses taking short cuts across our lakes. Perhaps someone could manufacture them in Canberra under licence–I hear that some people think we need more industry.

switch said :

bundah said :

Forget ferries that’s old-hat what we need is skyway gondolas….

Still waiting for those personal jetpacks we were promised back in the sixties.

Given that there’s many in power who have their heads in the clouds that would be right up their alley….

JessicaGlitter said :

Two words: amphibious buses.

I would just buy a bus pass and spend the summer riding around. It would have to have an open roof of course.

It exists! Jet powered too with an open roof.
http://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/power-and-propulsion/centas_sounds_of_silence_for_amphibious_jet_bus

It’s also a lame duck which is a good stablemate for the white elephant (aka light rail)

Two words: amphibious buses.

I would just buy a bus pass and spend the summer riding around. It would have to have an open roof of course.

Thanks for that davo101. And it carried bicycles too! What a cool idea, I wish it would of lasted.

Maya123 said :

I was told years ago, by a now very elderly lady, who once worked at the ANU (for over thirty years), there used to be a ferry running between Yarralumla and the ANU. Exactly where to where to don’t know.

Here’s an article about it from 1966.

Maya123 said :

I was told years ago, by a now very elderly lady, who once worked at the ANU (for over thirty years), there used to be a ferry running between Yarralumla and the ANU. Exactly where to where to don’t know. It was to bring workers to work. However, only about one person would regularly use the service, so it was cancelled. I did a quick google and found nothing about this. Does anyone else know anything about this?
A tourist service between the places mentioned sounds a good idea, at least for a trial.

I remember reading in a historical article somewhere about an ANU professor who used the ferry service to travel between his Yarralumla home and the ANU. It was the first I’d heard of such a thing, I suppose the demand wasn’t great enough and it didn’t last long. IMO the idea has potential, if not yet then sometime in the future, for example a more pleasant way for tourists to get around the sights than driving around looking for a parking space or a nice commute from to Civic from places like Kingston.

davo101 said :

bundah said :

Forget ferries that’s old-hat what we need is skyway gondolas….

I’m guessing you liked Pope’s cartoon as much as I did.

Yeah – saw that in the Canberra Times I think. A great cartoon ! With a certain irony about it.

bundah said :

Forget ferries that’s old-hat what we need is skyway gondolas….

I’m guessing you liked Pope’s cartoon as much as I did.

bundah said :

Forget ferries that’s old-hat what we need is skyway gondolas….

Still waiting for those personal jetpacks we were promised back in the sixties.

Forget ferries that’s old-hat what we need is skyway gondolas….

Good idea only if the ferries were shotover jet boats. That would service the area fine.

Certainly agree that as a tourist attraction a lake ferry might be the go. Also ANU students may find a public transport ferry link to the National Library useful but can’t see a cost benefit for every 15 minutes. I guess it would depend on how popular the ferry option might be and what hours of the day might be considered viable once infrastructure in place. Like the idea of including Yarralumla in the stops as it would be a non-car option for those travelling into the city and the ANU. If it is a serious idea, as many stops as possible would make give the viability factor some strength.

watto23 said :

You know the airport were looking at digging a canal at one stage to offer a fast boat service to the city.

How about a service to Batemans Bay Fitzcarraldo-style?

joingler said :

neanderthalsis said :

If combined with a canal system that links Gunghalin to Civic it could just work (or at least get the support of the Greens and then become govt policy).

We could then expand the canal system by using a sequence of locks to include Belconnen, Woden, Tuggeranong, Queanbeyan and the airport. Employment for skilled singing gondoliers would skyrocket (an occupation sadly in decline since the installation of karaoke machines on public gondoliers in other cities). Traffic congestion would be reduced to nil as all Canberrans would embrace the new aquatic corridors that offer clean, green and slightly damp transport. A network of solar powered hydrofoils made from 100% recycled materials and organic hemp could do the Tuggeranong to Gunghalin run in 11 minutes and 47 seconds

A thriving restaurant and cafe culture would pop up along the banks of the canals as locals and tourists alike flock to enjoy the ambiance of canal side dining in the new Venice of the south!

The ACT Govt could save significant amounts on waste management by cancelling current tenders and employing bargemen to tow Canberra’s waste across the border and scuttle it in Googong dam.

This is why Riot-Act needs a “Post of the month” competition. Brilliant post

You know the airport were looking at digging a canal at one stage to offer a fast boat service to the city.

neanderthalsis said :

If combined with a canal system that links Gunghalin to Civic it could just work (or at least get the support of the Greens and then become govt policy).

We could then expand the canal system by using a sequence of locks to include Belconnen, Woden, Tuggeranong, Queanbeyan and the airport. Employment for skilled singing gondoliers would skyrocket (an occupation sadly in decline since the installation of karaoke machines on public gondoliers in other cities). Traffic congestion would be reduced to nil as all Canberrans would embrace the new aquatic corridors that offer clean, green and slightly damp transport. A network of solar powered hydrofoils made from 100% recycled materials and organic hemp could do the Tuggeranong to Gunghalin run in 11 minutes and 47 seconds

A thriving restaurant and cafe culture would pop up along the banks of the canals as locals and tourists alike flock to enjoy the ambiance of canal side dining in the new Venice of the south!

The ACT Govt could save significant amounts on waste management by cancelling current tenders and employing bargemen to tow Canberra’s waste across the border and scuttle it in Googong dam.

This is why Riot-Act needs a “Post of the month” competition. Brilliant post

Dondon said :

I think a monorail would be a better option.

Great idea. Have they taken the one out of Sydney yet ? If so, it might be going cheap ?

neanderthalsis said :

If combined with a canal system that links Gunghalin to Civic it could just work (or at least get the support of the Greens and then become govt policy).

We could then expand the canal system by using a sequence of locks to include Belconnen, Woden, Tuggeranong, Queanbeyan and the airport. Employment for skilled singing gondoliers would skyrocket (an occupation sadly in decline since the installation of karaoke machines on public gondoliers in other cities). Traffic congestion would be reduced to nil as all Canberrans would embrace the new aquatic corridors that offer clean, green and slightly damp transport. A network of solar powered hydrofoils made from 100% recycled materials and organic hemp could do the Tuggeranong to Gunghalin run in 11 minutes and 47 seconds

A thriving restaurant and cafe culture would pop up along the banks of the canals as locals and tourists alike flock to enjoy the ambiance of canal side dining in the new Venice of the south!

The ACT Govt could save significant amounts on waste management by cancelling current tenders and employing bargemen to tow Canberra’s waste across the border and scuttle it in Googong dam.

Geez, neanderthalsis, I’d be careful there. Too much more of that “visionary” thinking and you might end up serving as an ACT Labor or Greens MLA………

A great post !

I think a monorail would be a better option.

If only it’d bloody rain a bit more and then we could all ride the rapids of our awesome network of stormwater drains into town on our kayaks & boogie-boards.