E-Newsletter #7

Woytopia Sustainable Living Festival: A resounding success

The biennial Woytopia Sustainable Living Festival was a tremendous success, drawing over 7,000 attendees. Brisbane Waters WaterBUS was proud to be a major sponsor of the event, with our marquee positioned next to the Federal Government's High Speed Rail Authority. This authority is responsible for advising on, planning, developing, and overseeing the construction and operation of a future high-speed rail network along Australia’s eastern seaboard.

Our waterbus initiative garnered significant public interest, sparking informative conversations with festival-goers. We extend our gratitude to Julian Bowker of the Peninsula Environment Group and his team of dedicated volunteers for providing us with the opportunity to participate in this vibrant community event. If you haven't already, please "Like" the Woytopia ⧉ page on Facebook to stay updated on future events.

For our newsletter subscribers who are not yet Guest Members, we encourage you to subscribe to our free Guest Membership plan. This will ensure you receive priority updates and gain access to our online member dashboard. Additionally, we offer Silver and Gold Membership plans for those interested in playing a more active role in guiding our project forward. Remember to "Like" us on the Brisbane Waters WaterBUS ⧉ Facebook page to stay connected with industry news and developments.

Community consultation report

Brisbane Waters WaterBUS is excited to share the results of our recent community consultation, which explored public interest in a proposed high-speed, low-wash waterbus service between Woy Woy and Gosford. This route represents a crucial first step in developing a broader regional waterbus network across the NSW Central Coast. Our initiative aims to tackle pressing issues such as transportation affordability, rising fuel costs, and housing pressures by offering a cost-effective commuting alternative for residents around the Brisbane Water, the Tuggerah Lakes, and Lake Macquarie.

We are thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of our six-month community consultation, which wrapped up on 30th September 2024. The community's enthusiastic participation was evident as we reached out through various channels, including half-page advertisements in Peninsula News, posters in local shop windows, and engaging posts in a popular local Facebook group.

Our primary focus was to engage Peninsula residents with the following concept proposal:

An affordable high-speed, low-wash, waterborne passenger transport route between Woy Woy and the Gosford foreshore would link an estimated 40,000 residents on the Peninsula to everything our regional capital seeks to offer, without adding to the expense of road traffic congestion or the need for high-rise car parks.

We are pleased to report an impressive 184 submissions, with a survey completion rate of 81%. This far exceeds the typical online survey benchmark of 10%-30% ⧉, underscoring the community's strong interest and engagement with our proposal.

The consultation results reveal robust community support for the waterbus concept, achieving an impressive average satisfaction score of 9.3 out of 10. As anticipated, the majority of respondents were from the postcodes 2256 (population 16,039, ABS 2021) and 2257 (population 30,403, ABS 2021), which include key areas such as Woy Woy, Ettalong, and Umina Beach. The demographic profile indicates broad representation across different age groups and occupancy statuses, highlighting the diverse needs of the Peninsula community.

Demographics 📊

Below, we present an overview of our survey demographics, including postcode, age group, gender, occupancy status, and employment.

Survey respondents from three postcodes accounted for 95.6% of all survey submissions:

• 2257: Empire Bay, Ettalong Beach, Hardys Bay, Killcare, Killcare Heights, Daleys Point, and Booker Bay.

• 2256: Blackwall, Horsfield Bay, Koolewong, Little Wobby, Patonga, Pearl Beach, Phegans Bay, Wondabyne, Woy Woy, and Woy Woy Bay.

• 2250: Calga, Central Mangrove, East Gosford, Erina, Gosford, Gosford South, Gosford West, Holgate, Kariong, Kulnura, Lisarow, Lower Mangrove, Mangrove Creek, Mangrove Mountain, North Gosford, West Gosford.

Survey respondents showed skewed demographics, particularly across gender. This pattern may be due to factors like community engagement trends, greater interest in public transport options, and survey reach. These insights may help shape targeted communication strategies for future community consultations.

The proportion of owner occupiers among survey respondents was 80.4% which is well above the 65.9% reported ⧉ by Profile.id for the NSW Central Coast. This aligns with the fact that older adults, who are more likely to own homes, participated in greater numbers.

The labor force participation rate among survey respondents was estimated to be above 59.7% (as we did not add a category for those actively seeking employment) which is higher than the expected 55.7% reported ⧉ by Profile.id for the NSW Central Coast.

Key findings 🔍

Among the 119 survey respondents who identified as employed or self-employed, 53 reported commuting to their workplace. Their feedback provided valuable insights, helping us create an overview of essential service categories ⧉, transportation mix, travel times, and common concerns. Additionally, we calculated a commuter satisfaction score specifically within this subgroup of respondents.

Commuters predominantly rely on private car and train services to meet their commuting needs.

Among the 53 survey respondents who identified as commuters, 19 reported regularly travelling outside the region.

Rising fuel costs, increasing road congestion, and lack of parking emerged as major commuter transportation concerns.

Overall, satisfaction with current transportation options averaged 6.6 out of 10.

Notably, commuter satisfaction with the waterbus concept averaged an impressive 9.4 out of 10, slightly surpassing a general satisfaction score of 9.3 when averaged across all survey respondents.

In summary, the overall response to the waterbus concept was overwhelmingly positive, with many respondents focusing on the affordability and environmental benefits in their written feedback. The service was seen as an essential alternative to rising fuel prices and the challenges of growing traffic congestion on our roads. A key demographic supporting the waterbus service is the 45-54 age group, accounting for 32% of the working population surveyed. This group includes a substantial number of commuters who would benefit directly from the service. Several respondents also expressed the need for a transport solution that integrates well with existing services, such as trains and buses, to ensure maximum convenience.

Key recommendations 🎯

• Pilot implementation with a focus on affordability
  Given the strong support for the initiative, a pilot waterbus service should be implemented, focusing on competitive pricing that provides a viable alternative to private car usage. Marketing should emphasise the cost savings and environmental benefits.

• Strengthen integration with existing transport
  To address concerns, the Brisbane Waters WaterBUS initiative should collaborate with train and bus services to ensure schedules complement each other. Developing a unified ticketing system or offering joint travel discounts could help improve the service’s appeal.

• Further engagement with key demographics
  Postcodes 2256 and 2257 exhibited the highest levels of interest, with 68% of respondents identifying as owner-occupiers within the age group 18 to 64. To enhance service offerings and highlight the associated benefits, further engagement with these demographics is recommended.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts and contribute to this initiative. Your interest and support are invaluable as we move forward with this exciting community project. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to work towards a sustainable and efficient transportation solution for our region.

[The anonymised raw survey data from our community consultation is available for purchase by organisations seeking a more in-depth analysis. Contact us ⧉ for further details.]

Connecting with Wagstaffe to Killcare Community Association

On 2nd October 2024, we were invited to discuss the Brisbane Waters WaterBUS initiative with members of the WKTCA at Wagstaffe Hall in Wagstaffe. This meeting offered valuable insights into concerns about the Wagstaffe-to-Ettalong ferry route, which is sometimes disrupted or redirected due to adverse weather conditions affecting arrivals from Palm Beach. There was also strong support for establishing waterborne access to Woy Woy Train Station, which would provide an ideal transit solution for residents of Wagstaffe and Killcare.

The Wagstaffe to Killcare Community Association comprises residents and rate-payers of Wagstaffe, Pretty Beach, Hardys Bay, Killcare and Killcare Heights on the Bouddi Peninsula, Central Coast NSW. We are passionate about protecting everything good about the unique character of our area – the bush beach and bay environment, the village character and the sense of community.

To learn more about the WKTCA or to become a member, please visit their website at wagstaffetokillcare.org.au ⧉.

Candela P-12 enters Stockholm's public transportation matrix

The world’s first electric hydrofoil service is officially in operation! Passengers are now welcome onboard the Candela P-12 ‘Nova’, traveling from Ekerö center to Stockholm City Hall. Cutting travel times in half and eliminating emissions, Candela is unlocking the potential of Stockholm's waterways. The P-12 will run three times a day as a pilot project in collaboration with @regionstockholm. More info at sl.se/nova ⧉.

Stay up-to-date with developments at Candela by following them on Instagram ⧉, Facebook ⧉, X ⧉, and LinkedIn ⧉.

Candela celebrates its 10th anniversary

Candela celebrated its 10th anniversary last month. Having pioneered electric hydrofoil technology since its inception in 2014, the company enjoys a first-mover advantage over its competitors in addition to demonstrating a significant long term commitment to the industry. Candela now has an annual revenue of US$84.2 million, with a 19% increase in employees over the past year, bringing the total to 289.

Candela continues to lead the world with its product lineup and has garnered significant investor interest along the way. In March 2024 Candela completed a €24.5 million funding round to scale up production to meet demand for the Candela P-12, the world’s first electric hydrofoil ferry. This brings the total investment raised by Candela to €70 million.

Key investors include global boat maker Groupe Beneteau (the world’s largest boat manufacturer with an annual turnover of €1.46 billion), EQT Ventures, Ocean Zero LLC, and Kan Dela AB. The global market for electric vessels is projected to grow from US$4.33 billion in 2024 to US$17.20 billion by 2032 according to Fortune Business Insights ⧉.

Reading list:

• Sweden’s Candela snaps €24.5M to scale up electric vessel production ⧉

• Electric vessel maker Candela closes record funding round of €24.5M ⧉

• Groupe Beneteau key part of €24.5M Candela funding ⧉

What's next for November 2024? ✨

As we move forward this month, we are focused on three key objectives:

1. Engage with the remaining community stakeholders in the Terrigal electorate
   Strengthening relationships with local leaders and community members in the Terrigal region is a priority as we work to expand our reach.

2. Enhance membership benefits for our Silver and Gold Members
   We are dedicated to providing even greater value to our Silver and Gold members, with new benefits and exclusive opportunities.

3. Explore strategic opportunities for the NSW Central Coast
   Once our local community groups are briefed we will begin a programme of intensive networking with both administrative and commercial stakeholders.

Thank you once again for your continued support of the Brisbane Waters WaterBUS initiative. Together, we can make a real difference for our community.

[Article edited 4th November 2024 for detail and clarity.]