Councillors have indicated a willingness to extend the Tuapeka Mouth Ferry's operating hours, after a number of local people had asked for a weekend ferry service.
The Tuapeka Mouth Ferry, also called the Tuapeka punt, is funded by the council under its road maintenance contracts, and is treated much like a bridge as use of the ferry is free of charge.
The district assets committee recommended to the council that the Tuapeka Mouth Ferry service should be revisited, with the new scope of work incorporating standard ferry operations - Monday to Friday 8am to 10am and 4pm to 6pm - additional ferry operations on weekends over the same hours, and special operations outside of designated hours, at the council's discretion.
The new hours would be implemented in the 2012-13 year if passed at the next full council meeting on December 15, and was subject to annual plan and New Zealand Transport Agency approval as the agency funds 60% of the punt's costs.
Councillor Stewart Cowie said a number of people in the Clutha Valley ward were concerned the hours would be reduced, rather than extended.
Many farmers in particular used the punt to access land on the other side of the Clutha River as it was quicker.
The punt is operated by Peter Dickson but council contractors had one trained operator to fill in for Mr Dickson when he was not working, and were considering training an additional operator.
The ferry is the only one of its kind in New Zealand, and is believed to be the last water-driven public punt in the southern hemisphere. It ferries people and vehicles across the Clutha River just downstream from where the Tuapeka River meets the Clutha, 37km northwest of Balclutha.
The punt, opened in 1896, was regularly used by farmers and others to cross the river.
