SailabilityWA amongst clubs at risk of potential closure following announcement of Matilda Bay ferry terminal

A volunteer-run sailing club that’s supported people with disabilities for 25 years says it could close because of Matilda Bay being selected as the site for a new Swan River ferry terminal. The location was confirmed on Saturday by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti as part of future plans to establish a Metronet on the Swan river transport system. The Nedlands stop will be right at the UWA campus, across the river from a previously announced location in Applecross. Ms Saffioti knew Saturday’s announcement would spark backlash from other water users and Matilda Bay-based groups, who claim the terminal will disrupt — and potentially shut down — their clubs’ operations. “Different water users had different views. We tried to get the right balance; as I said, they’re not all satisfied at this point but we needed to make a decision,” Ms Saffioti said. One of those groups is Sailability WA — a not-for-profit and volunteer-run sailing club based at Royal Perth Yacht Club that helps promote and develop all aspects of sailing for people with all types of disability. SailabilityWA founder Graham White claimed having the terminal at Matilda Bay would force the program to shut down over safety issues. “The collision risks for injury or even fatality are too high,” he wrote in a letter to Ms Saffioti earlier this month. ”Matilda Bay was chosen as the best site on the river to establish (our) inclusive program because it provides the safest sports area, ideal wind conditions and access to floating jetties at RPYC, essential for safe transfer of disabled persons on and off boats.” Mr White said relocating wasn’t possible because their program relied on the floating jetties at RPYC — which do not exist elsewhere else along the river. “This decision to put the ferry terminal here means that we’ll have to stop our Sailability program,” he said. “So it’s pretty dismal at the moment, and the disabled members of our club are absolutely devastated about the loss of this opportunity.” One of SailabilityWA’s members is Australian blind sailing team skipper Kylie Forth, a blind amputee who has been sailing with the club for nearly 21 years. “It was the first sport that I’ve ever been able to participate in since I got my leg amputated when I was nine, and I’ve been sailing ever since,” she said. After a life battling cancer after cancer, Ms Forth said sailing has become her own safe haven — something she feels like she has control over during so many moments of uncertainty. “I’ve had about 19 tumours cut out of me so far, and it’s coming up every every few months,” she said. “Sailing is the only thing that has kept me going between treatments ... It’s something that I have control over and feel empowered.” Ms Forth said the only other location that Sailabilty could move to would be on the ocean — an option that she and other members say would not be feasible. “I’m happy for there to be a ferry, but I don’t want it to be right in the way of my sailing. Because what have I got if I don’t have sailing? I’ve honestly got nothing else to keep me sane,” she said. Despite SailabilityWA’s concerns, Ms Saffioti said the ferry terminal at Matilda Bay would not prevent the club from operating. “Based on the advice of maritime safety experts, we don’t see any reason an expanded ferry service would prevent SailabilityWA from continuing their operations in the area, but we will support them through the next phase of the process to ensure they can continue the great work they do,” Ms Saffioti said. “The site was one of five considered in the area, with the preferred location identified through a multi-criteria analysis which assessed waterway and marine safety, heritage and environment, water and land use, and connectivity. “This process was also informed by independent maritime safety experts.” Royal Perth Yacht Club committee member Anna Flanders claimed feedback from water groups had not been taken into proper consideration and that genuine consultation was not carried out. On Saturday, more than 40 water user groups turned up to a State Government information session to discuss the formation of a UWA terminal reference group. Hours later, the location of the ferry terminal was announced at a separate media conference. “We were promised extra consultation. We weren’t informed that hours later they would reveal the location,” Ms Flanders said. UWA Boat Club president Megan Hayworth was amongst water groups at the Saturday session supportive of the Nedlands ferry terminal instead being at JoJo’s Jetty. That site was dismissed after it was found there was too much traffic from kite surfers. Ms Hayworth said the future of the boat club’s program was also now in question. “Currently the speed limit for the area is eight knots, whereas the ferry would reach up to 20-25 knots. And the State Government has not ruled out it would be applying for an exemption to this limit,” she said. “It’s like the maritime equivalent of putting a highway in a school zone. “This would make it impossible for rowers or carry out our program, where we teach rowing to about 500 kids from Shenton College each year.” Ms Flanders said none of the clubs were inherently against a ferry network — it was the location that was the issue. “No one is against the ferry network. We think that this ferry network is incredibly progressive. We are more than happy to share the water space with the ferries,” she said. “The only issue with this is the terminal running into Matilda Bay. “They’re running a 25-metre ferry into the safest and most protected waters. The risks are just too high and the loss is too high.” Set to open by late 2027, the new Matilda Bay terminal will now go to construction tender as part of the $107m ferry network plan, which includes building five new electric ferries. “With the preferred location for a new ferry terminal servicing UWA and Matilda Bay now finalised, a water user reference group will be established to provide ongoing advice and ensure appropriate controls and measures are in place so the waterway can be shared safely by all users,” Ms Saffioti said. “SailabilityWA will be a key organisation invited to sit on that water user reference group to ensure their input guides the next steps.”