Save Matilda Bay
Right ferry! Wrong place!Stop it. Move it to JoJo's.
Save Matilda Bay is asking the WA Government to stop the ferry terminal at Matilda Bay and move it to the existing jetty at JoJo's. Construction contracts are due to be signed, so we need to act now. Help by calling and emailing your local State MP, the Premier and the Minister, donating, and coming to our rallies and events.
Ferries on the Swan are a good idea. And Matilda Bay is worth preserving. Both things are true. Just around the corner from the proposed site, there is already a jetty.
The issue
A ferry terminal in the wrong place
The WA Government plans a $30 million ferry terminal in central Matilda Bay as part of METRONET on Swan, funded jointly by the state and federal governments.
Matilda Bay is for everyone. It is a place to swim, sit under a tree, paddle, row, sail, fish and picnic. People marry here, celebrate here, gather here, enjoy nature here and cool down here on a 40-degree afternoon.
Matilda Bay is one of the busiest areas of the Swan River, used by swimmers and unpowered watercraft. Picnickers, sailing clubs, school rowers, dragon boaters, Sea Scouts, Fishability WA and Sailability WA, for blind and disabled sailors, all use it.
The Government's proposal would put a large four-berth ferry terminal and charging hub in the middle of all that. We are asking for something simple: keep the bay a place for people. Build the ferry stop at JoJo's.
Why it matters
Four reasons to move it
Protect the Bay
Some losses are permanent.
At risk: at least 39 mature shade trees, black swan breeding habitat, seagrass beds where dolphins and black swans feed, and a recreation reserve people value. Once mature trees, seagrass and wildlife habitat are gone, they're gone for good.
Safety
A 64-tonne ferry has no place among six-year-old sailors.
An independent risk review raised serious concerns. Sailability WA says blind and disabled sailors cannot keep using the Bay alongside the terminal. Ferry speeds of up to 25 knots would make it worse.
Sport and clubs
Sport clubs and youth sport at risk.
Rowers and paddlers depend on calm water. Ferry traffic and wash put that at risk.
Smarter transport
JoJo's is the better stop for commuters.
The Nedlands Jetty and seawall already exist, with access to Broadway, QEII Medical Centre and UWA's south entrance. It is an easy walk from homes, cafés, bars and restaurants. It works as part of a real ferry network.
The next generation is watching.
Matilda Bay is where Perth kids learn to swim, paddle, sail and enjoy nature. Keep it safe for them.
The answer
The better stop is already built
This is a pro-ferry campaign. Stop the terminal at Matilda Bay, and build the ferry stop at the existing Nedlands Jetty next to JoJo's.
Why JoJo's works
- The jetty and seawall are already there.
- Lower cost to build, with deeper water and a safer site.
- Connects to Nedlands' growing Broadway precinct and its cafés and restaurants, QEII Medical Centre and UWA's south entrance.
- Keeps ferries out of the bay's main paddling, sailing and rowing water.
- Saves 39 trees and avoids clearing seagrass at Matilda Bay.
- Independent environmental, safety and structural reports support it.
Who's with us
- Safety on Swan: ten clubs including Sailability WA, UWA Boat Club and the Royal Perth Yacht Club.
- Rowing Australia and Rowing WA.
- Independents Jonathan Huston MLA and Kate Chaney MP, the Greens' Brad Pettitt MLC and the Liberals' Steve Martin MLC.
- Over 1,000 people at the bay on 18 October.
- More than 9,000 people, from 340 postcodes, who have signed petitions to save the Bay.
Take action · 2 minutes
Call or email the Premier, the Minister and your MP
Premier Roger Cook and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti can stop this. Your local MP can take your objection to them. Ask each office to record your objection. A phone call takes two minutes.
Phone
- Call during business hours, Monday to Friday. If you get voicemail, leave your name, suburb and the message above.
- Be polite and brief. The person who answers will pass your message on.
- Always say which suburb you live in. Local MPs give priority to the people they represent.
Pick who to write to, add your name and suburb, then send. A sentence or two about why the bay matters to you makes a big difference.
MP details from the Parliament of Western Australia, checked 26 October 2026. Suburbs matched to the electoral boundaries used at the 2025 state election. Not sure of your electorate? Check with the WA Electoral Commission.
Show up
Coming up
Jono's Street Talk
9 to 10:30am with Jonathan Huston MLA. Bayside Kitchen, 5 Hackett Drive, Crawley. Come and ask questions.
UWA Convocation special meeting
6:30pm for 6:45pm, Wesfarmers Lecture Theatre, UWA Business School. UWA graduates can vote on asking the University to seek a pause on the terminal. The meeting is open to UWA graduates only. If you're a UWA alumnus, please attend.
Rally at Parliament House
Arrive 12:30pm, Parliament House, Harvest Terrace, West Perth. With Jonathan Huston MLA, Safety on Swan, Sailability WA and Friends of Matilda Bay.
Bring a sign. Bring a friend. Bring your voice.
Give
Fund the fight for the bay
Every dollar goes to the campaign, held by Friends of Matilda Bay in a dedicated account.
What your gift pays for
- Expert safety and environmental reports$30,000
- Rally costs: sound, signs, permits, car stickers$10,000
- Advertising$20,000
- Independent legal advice$35,000
Who holds the money
Friends of Matilda Bay. Treasurer: Ben Clayton. We'll report on how funds are spent.
Stay in touch
Get the updates that matter
Decisions are coming fast. Join the email list and we'll keep you updated.