Kamay Ferry Wharves

Read about the work we’ve completed to date and what is coming up in the March community update (PDF, 187.5 KB).

Check out our short video on environmental management of Posidonia australis seagrass with UNSW and Gamay Rangers at the top of the page.

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The NSW Government is replacing the previous ferry wharves at La Perouse and Kurnell as part of the Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell Master Plan by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The National Park Master Plan will deliver improved visitor amenity and access, provide new experiences, and acknowledge the diversity of stories associated with this place.

The new wharves will provide a valuable recreational resource for the community and will allow for future ferry access between both sides of the National Park.

The project recognises the rich culture and ongoing importance of the area to Aboriginal people. Feedback from the community and stories of Country have helped guide the design.

Large scale artworks by two local Aboriginal artists are integrated into the designs of the jetty and the shelter structures at La Perouse and Kurnell.

Transport engaged the Gujaga Foundation for the project. The Gujaga Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation leading language, cultural and research activities within the La Perouse Aboriginal community.

The Gujaga Foundation worked with the design team (led by Arup), and key people with ancient links to Kamay, the La Perouse Aboriginal community, Elders, knowledge holders and local artists to translate stories into elements of the wharves and landscape design.

The engagement of the Gujaga Foundation supports the health and wellbeing of Country by valuing, respecting, and being guided by Aboriginal people via meaningful engagement to ensure culturally sensitive outcomes are achieved. The engagement of the Gujaga Foundation is also aligned to Transport’s Reconciliation Action Plan and demonstrates Transport’s commitment to meaningful reconciliation at the location of the First Meeting Place.

The wharves will allow for future ferry access between both sides of Kamay Botany Bay National Park. They will also improve access for locals and visitors in small commercial and recreational boats and for people to swim, dive, fish, walk and enjoy the local sights.

Benefits of the project include:

• Deliver on the Kamay Master Plan and enhance the recognition of Aboriginal connections to the area
• A new arrival experience by water and allow people to connect with Aboriginal and cultural values that are associated with Kamay Botany Bay
• Allow for future ferry access between both sides of Kamay Botany Bay National Park
• Improved access and facilities for recreational vessels
• Provide safer access for recreational fishing.
• Provide wider commercial and recreational opportunities by increasing accessibility and attracting more people to La Perouse and Kurnell, which is expected to lead to the creation of jobs and wider economic benefits in the tourism and hospitality sectors
• Improve the sense of arrival and place making improvements to both sides of the Kamay Botany Bay National Park.

The wharves will be accessible to all community members, including people with additional mobility requirements, carers with prams and customers with luggage.

Key features include:

• Berths for small commercial and recreational vessels up to 20 metres in length and ferries up to 40 metres
• Sheltered waiting areas and seating
• Ladders for safety and access to/from the water
• Paving, seating and landscaping at the entries
• New footpaths to connect with existing footpaths
• Lighting
• Additional parking spaces
• New bike racks at La Perouse Wharf
• Power and water utilities to service the wharves.

The wharves will not only facilitate the safe berthing of vessels, but provide a gathering place for visitors to learn about stories of Country, rest, interact and take in the beautiful views.

Artwork features of the La Perouse Wharf

At La Perouse, Bidjigal Artist Jordan Ardler and the Gujaga Foundation identified various narratives and memories amongst the local Aboriginal Community. These narratives spanned over a long period of time, from the retelling of ancient dreaming stories through the re-interpretation of a nearby (now largely eroded) stone carving, to more contemporary memories of the activities undertaken by members of the Community, such as fishing, diving and the making and selling of artifacts.

Jordan worked with senior members of the La Perouse Aboriginal community and listened to community members feedback on what stories are important to tell through her artwork.

Artwork features of the Kurnell Wharf

At Kurnell, Gweagal Artist Shane Youngberry and the Gujaga Foundation identified a single theme for interpretation through the cultural artwork. A dreaming story about the creation of the bay, by a significant ancestral being, was identified through further community consultation. This story has never been documented and has been passed down through the generations verbally.

Shane worked with senior members of his clan group to capture the featured dreaming story and to ensure the visual representations and storytelling is spiritually and culturally appropriate.

Managing environmental impacts is our key focus. We are working in an environmentally sensitive area which is home to threatened species including Posidonia australis seagrass and White's Seahorse.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) assessed the expected impacts of the construction and operation of the project and how we plan to manage and mitigate these impacts.

As part of our project planning and conditions of approval we have developed supporting management plans including the Construction Environment Management Plan. These documents provide further details about how we are safeguarding the environment during our work. These are available to read on the Project documents page.

We've also answered some frequently asked questions (PDF, 527.98 KB). (PDF, 282.12 KB)

You can read the EIS, Response to Submissions Report and determination documents on our project documents page and the NSW Department of Planning and Environment website.

Seagrass restoration

The University of NSW has completed Posidonia australis seagrass translocation from the project impact area to the rehabilitation sites in Botany Bay, Kurnell.

To help protect the seagrass rehabilitation areas and existing Posidonia australis meadow boat anchoring is prohibited (see map below in ‘construction’). We also encourage boaters to lift motor propellers in shallow depths. Please follow signs and yellow marker buoys

UNSW and the Gamay Rangers are collecting naturally detached Posidonia fragments from beaches around Botany Bay. These fragments are stored in holding tanks and then replanted by UNSW in rehabilitation sites in Kurnell. This work is ongoing.

Monitoring work is also being carried out.

Work will take place during the day, Monday to Friday.

We don't anticipate any noise or vibration impacts to residents or National Park users.

For more about this work watch the video at the top of the page or read more:

• Posidonia seagrass and seahorse protection information sheet (PDF, 2.71 MB)
• Marine Biodiversity Offset Strategy (PDF, 8.6 MB).

Our standard work hours are: 

• 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday 
• 8am to 1pm on Saturday. 

At times, we may also need to work outside of standard hours. This includes:

• From early March 2024, we will work limited extended hours on weekdays for low impact work. Workers may arrive from 5am, with concrete trucks from 6am, for around five shifts at Kurnell, and three shifts at La Perouse, over a period of 3 months
• From February 2024, we may also work extended weekday hours in the evening if required to finish low impact work already underway
• From Saturday 11 November 2023, we will work extended hours on Saturdays – from 8am to 6pm – for a period of approximately eight months.

The noisiest piling work will continue to stop at 1pm on Saturday. 

At times, our contract partner may request to work outside of standard work hours. If the work is low impact a request is submitted to the Project’s independent Environmental Representative. If the work is higher impact, we may need to undertake a Community Negotiated Agreement process and notify nearby residents and businesses. 

All work activities and dates provided are subject to weather and site conditions.

Construction is expected to be completed by late-2024.

Work activities

Some of the current and upcoming work activities you may see in La Perouse and Kurnell include:

• final adjustments being made to the depth and height of the wharf piles

• continued installation of wharf deck concrete planks

• water and electrical services run to, and along, the wharf structure

• delivery and installation of steel headstocks / support beams for wharf vessel berthing area (which will arrive by water)

• concrete pouring at places on site, including on the wharf deck

• installation of structural steel for wharf waiting area roof and timber and steel for the balustrades

• equipment and material deliveries

• continued installation of the La Perouse Wharf approach structure

• landscaping work near the La Perouse Wharf entrance including temporary removal of the Timbery Reserve Plaque. The site fencing will be temporarily relocated onto the edge of the footpath. Pedestrian access will be maintained.

• electrical connection work and removal of the temporary steel jetty and causeway at Kurnell.

For the latest information on our work activities read the site construction notifications on the project documents webpage or sign up to receive email updates.

Read more about our work:

• Wharf construction infosheet (PDF, 282.12 KB)
• Frequently asked questions (PDF, 551.78 KB)
• Monument Track closure (PDF, 786.11 KB)

La Perouse work area

Kurnell work area

A ferry service operated between Kurnell and La Perouse from the 1890s until 1974 when severe storms damaged the wharves.

In 2018, the former Office of Environment and Heritage completed the Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell Master Plan.

Stage 1 of the Master Plan includes the re-establishment of the wharves at La Perouse and Kurnell.

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was exhibited by the former Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, from July to August 2021.

The project was assessed by the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) and approved as State Significant Infrastructure (SSI) on 27 July 2022. The project was also assessed by the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. It was approved on 17 March 2023 under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

You can view the associated documents on our project documents page, the DPE and DCCEEW websites.

We will provide project updates on our webpage and via email, along with construction notifications delivered to impacted properties.  Community forums will also be held through the project. 

Provide your contact details via this form or by contacting us on the details below.  

Upcoming forums and drop-in sessions

Our next community drop-in session is at La Perouse. We'll be joined by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and colleagues from our Transport Aboriginal Engagement and Procurement team.

• When: Tuesday 27 February 2024
• Time: Drop-in any time between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. Join us for a guided walk at 5.30pm.
• Where: Near Frenchmans Bay Reserve Playground (down from the site on Anzac Parade).

This event is weather dependant. Please check the website or call us on the number below to get the latest information.

If you can’t make a session, our team are available to chat with you individually. Please contact us on the details below. 

Enquiries and complaints
To make an enquiry or complaint about the work please contact us on the details at the bottom of this page. 

You can read more about the complaint handling process in section 11.2 in the Community Communication Strategy on the project documents page. 

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