Save Matilda Bay- There’s Still Time!!
Friends of Matilda Bay including Sailability WA continue to advocate moving the proposed ferry terminal from Matilda Bay to the existing Nedlands Jetty (JoJo’s) – creating a vibrant gateway connecting Nedlands, Broadway, UWA southern entrance, and QEII to the river – while keeping Matilda Bay safe and family-friendly for all to enjoy.
We need your ongoing support to show why the proposed ferry terminal should be at JoJo’s.
- Have your say on the DBCA Development Application open for Public Submission – closes 29 September 2026
- Come to the Save Matilda Bay Action Day Support Rally & Picnic on Sunday 11 October (date TBC)
- Join us for the Save Matilda Bay Parliament House Rally on Thursday 12 November
Thank you for being part of the movement to Save Matilda Bay.
DBCA Development Application open for Public Submission
The application for approval of the ferry operations is currently open with DBCA. It is really important to have your say. This is the final approval needed and it directly relates to how the ferries will operate within Matilda Bay
Public submissions close 29 September 2026
The DBCA website contains information on the proposed ferry operations, which can be accessed here. A summary of key information from the report and some information to help understand what is proposed is as follows:
1. Speed exemptions — the ferry is reliant on speed exemptions for the service to be reliable
- PTA needs speed exemptions to run reliably – up to 25 knots (46 km/h) in parts of Matilda Bay’s 8-knot (15 km/h) zones, and above the 10-knot (18 km/h) night limit, sunset to sunrise.
- Of the four scenarios assessed, the ones that minimise environmental impact are the ones PTA describes as unreliable. The reverse is also true, the most reliable options are the ones with the greatest wake and environmental impact. There’s no scenario that delivers both.
- PTA’s preferred scenario is number 2 – it also has the highest speeds with environmental and wake impact identified.
- All scenarios require nighttime speed exemptions of 25 knots.
- If the night exemption isn’t approved, the service drops to hourly after dark.
2. Wake and erosion
- Wake at Mill Point Reserve substantially exceeds natural wave energy.
- Northern Matilda Bay “already warrants management” due to existing erosion – the ferry adds to it.
- Class A Pelican Point Nature Reserve sees wake energy rise 20–30% of natural wave energy under the higher-speed scenarios, specifically flagged: “the potential influence of Case 2 and 3 on sediment dynamics and the associated environmental values of the reserve and Sea Scout foreshore should be further investigated.” The consultant developed Scenario 2A to reduce impact at North Matilda Bay and Pelican Point. PTA does not support it, describing it as having insufficient headway and inadequate recovery time.
- Acceleration/deceleration effects “have not been explicitly represented.” The PTA’s wake figures for the two most sensitive locations were calculated using a method its own consultant admits doesn’t capture how the vessel will actually behave there, and the direction of that error, by the DA’s own admission, is toward understating the real impact, not overstating it.
3. Visual and amenity values
- PTA says the ferries “visual impacts are inherently low and transient in nature.”
- In practice, two ferries will be berthed at Matilda Bay at once during the day – one charging, one boarding – a far more permanent presence than “transient” suggests.
- Berthed ferries affect sightlines out to 140m (the terminal’s length) – a visual amenity impact, and a safety issue for anyone relying on a clear line of sight, for safe navigation on the water.
- PTA says “Community access to the river will be enhanced by the proposal. The proposal will not preclude the use of open space for large community events, sport and recreation activities. This is ensured by the proposed alternative route which enables flexibility when such events take place.”
- Reality – A 140m jetty cutting through the bay isn’t “enhanced access to the river,” it’s a new barrier.
- Won’t preclude” ≠ “won’t significantly adversely affect
- The “flexible alternative route” claim has no numbers behind it. PTA says the route can flex around others sharing the water, but their own timetable appears to have only 15 minutes of schedule recovery across a 75-minute loop that includes three stops, and that’s meant to cover charging, passenger boarding, weather, and manoeuvring at the terminal too. Flexible how, exactly?
4. Recreational use
- Route developed via the Waterways Stakeholder Reference Group (WSRG) (21 members, 7 meetings).
- The route has a 200–250 metre separation from Mounts Bay Road for passive watercraft and runs along the edge of Matilda Bay to protect sailing space.
- The DA admits the WSRG never reached agreement.
- It explains that given the diversity of vessel types, operating patterns and speeds represented within the WSRG, achieving unanimous agreement on a preferred route is challenging.
- This is the main issue and what the clubs raised with government when first consulted. It is the reason why a safe solution for all users at Matilda Bay is not possible.
- It describes the route only as “more acceptable” but doesn’t say for whom – and perhaps even more importantly, who it is not acceptable for.
- Because for some of these members, “not acceptable” isn’t just inconvenience, it’s the difference between continuing to operate and not.
- A ferry route out of Matilda Bay creates significant risk to everyone who uses the Bay.
- Speed exemptions only further increase risk to other water users
Disclaimer: The above information has been provided by Safety on Swan. Additional information is also available on the Safety on Swan website.
11 October 2026 (date TBC) – Save Matilda Bay Action Day – Support Rally & Picnic
- Join Friends of Matilda Bay and Sailability WA on Sunday 11 October 2026 (date TBC) at Central Matilda Bay from 11am
- Listen to the community before it’s too late
- Save Matilda Bay for future generations
12 November 2026 – Save Matilda Bay Action Day – Parliament House Rally
- Join Jonathan Huston MLA, Member for Nedlands, Friends of Matilda Bay and Sailability WA on Thursday 12 November 2026 at Parliament House from 1pm
- YES Matilda Bay is safe for families, nature, wildlife and recreation
- NO Matilda Bay is not for a high-frequency, high-speed ferry, terminal and bus hub.
Sailability WA Inc
PO Box 5
NEDLANDS WA 6909
www.sailabilitywa.org.au
