Double Bay Wharf Upgrade

The Double Bay Wharf will temporarily close for construction of upgrades from Tuesday 13 June 2023 for around six months, weather permitting. Travellers will need to use alternative transport and vessels will need to berth at an alternative wharf during this time.

Read the May community update (PDF, 1.64 MB).

Transport for NSW is improving Sydney’s ferry services for customers. New and upgraded wharves are being delivered as part of the NSW Government’s Transport Access Program.

Customers with mobility needs are currently unable to access Bay Street from Double Bay Wharf unassisted. The upgrade will make the wharf easier and safer for customers to use, including those with additional mobility requirements, parents/carers with prams and customers with luggage.

The upgrade includes a new dual-sided floating pontoon with a gangway, covered waiting area, customer seating and weather protection. The gangway connects to the jetty that provides an accessible route from street-level to board or alight a waiting ferry.

The upgrade also includes improved lighting and security.

In designing the new wharves a number of areas need to be considered such as accessibility, the environment, customer safety and amenity, future demand and ferry operations. Read more on the Wharf Upgrade Program.

We thank the community for your feedback during the concept design and Review of Environmental Factors (REF) consultations.

As a result of the feedback, we have made the following changes:

• reduced the length of the jetty
• we will retain and remediate the existing jetty, rather than replacing it, to reduce aquatic environmental disturbance. This also allows the main access to 18 Footers to be used throughout construction
• improve drainage on the jetty
• added elements to the pontoon to support drop off and pick up facilities for different sized vessels
• added more seating on the pontoon
• starting the construction in winter to minimise the impact during the peak summer and sailing season.

Construction of the wharf will take up to six months to complete, weather and maritime conditions permitting.

Construction activities include:

• site establishment including installing fencing and a compound/shed
• removing the timber structures, tidal steps and piles
• installing new steel piles, gangway and floating pontoon
• new wharf fit out including seating, lighting and customer information.

All water users must maintain a safe distance from the waterside work zone at all times.

Double Bay Wharf will be closed for up to six months during construction from Tuesday 13 June 2023.

During this time, recreational and commercial vessels will need to berth at an alternative wharf such as Rose Bay.

Travellers will need to use alternative transport No additional bus services are proposed at this time as there are nearby bus service options and the Darling Point Wharf will remain operational.

Some options for people travelling to and from the City include:

• 324, 324X and 325 bus services on New South Head Road
• 323, 326, 327 bus services on New South Head Road. Change at Edgecliff station for trains to the City
• 328 bus service on William Street. Change at Edgecliff station for trains to the city. This service runs limited hours on weekdays only.

Other public transport options include trains at Edgecliff Station and ferries from Darling Point Wharf.

The timetable for ferry services to the other wharf on the F7 route has not changed due to the temporary closure of the Double Bay Wharf.

Plan your trip by visiting transportnsw.info

Our standard work hours will be between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday and between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays. No work is planned for Sundays or public holidays.

Some of our work may be noisy at times, however we will do everything we can to minimise the impact such as staging the work to provide periods of respite and providing early notice to residents and businesses.

There may be some work that needs to happen outside of standard hours such as installing the piles and lifting sections of the wharf into place. We need very still water during these activities for safety and accuracy – and conditions are usually most calm in the early morning or at night. We will notify businesses and nearby residents before any work occurs outside of standard hours.

Working with Woollahra Council during Bay Street upgrades

We will work closely with Woollahra Council who is delivering pedestrian upgrades in Bay Street. These upgrades are planned to take place at around the same time as the wharf upgrade, reducing the period of disruption to the community.

Council will also deliver our planned landside work which includes footpath upgrades and making the accessible car parking spaces compliant.

If you have any questions about the Bay Street upgrades please visit Council’s project webpage or contact Council on 9391 7000.

Wharf interchanges across Sydney are being upgraded to improve the transport experience for customers and the community. Find out more about wharf upgrades in your area.

Initial consultation for the Double Bay Wharf upgrade was carried out between Monday 29 March and Wednesday 5 May 2021. Read more in the consultation report (PDF, 2.15Mb).

From Friday 15 October to Tuesday 16 November 2021, the Review of Environmental Factors for the proposed upgrade was on display for comment.

You can read a summary of the submissions and our responses in the submissions report (PDF, 642Kb).

• May 2023 community update (PDF, 1.64 MB)
  Wharf construction to commence.
• April 2022 community update

  Project planning approval received and submissions report.

• October 2021 community update

  Have your say on Review of Environmental Factors.

• August 2021 community update

  Consultation report now available.

• March 2021 community update

  Have your say on wharf concept design.

• April 2022 Review of Environmental Factors submissions report

  Double Bay Wharf Upgrade.

• October 2021 Review of Environmental Factors report

  Double Bay Wharf Upgrade.

• August 2021 concept design consultation report

  Double Bay Wharf Upgrade.