East Gippsland Shire Council has voted to overhaul the Raymond Island Ferry pass system, delivering a simpler and significantly more flexible arrangement for island residents following months of intensive community pushback and consultation.
The decision, finalised at council’s meeting on Tuesday, June 23, marks the culmination of a process triggered in September last year when councillors resolved to review the highly criticised pass framework, which had been in active operation since 2022.
The structural changes were heavily shaped by feedback from island locals who repeatedly emphasised that the vehicle ferry acts as a critical, non-negotiable lifeline connecting Raymond Island to the Paynesville mainland.
To map out how the previous system was failing in practice, council engaged in an extensive consultation process with the Raymond Island Community Association (RICA) and local families. The polling highlighted systemic flaws in the 2022 framework, particularly regarding unfair barriers for long-term renters, essential healthcare carers, and larger, multi-driver households sharing a single pass.
The newly adopted, streamlined framework includes several core adjustments:
– Preserving lifetime access: The existing lifetime portable passes currently held by owners of developed island land will remain valid and in circulation.
– Inclusion for renters: In a major policy shift, eligible residents and developed-land owners — explicitly including renters — can now apply for additional portable passes at no cost.
– Multi-driver flexibility: Households can claim one additional pass per eligible driver. These supplementary passes will feature a standardised three-year validity period to simplify municipal administration.
– Carer support: The system will officially accommodate residents who rely on regular medical or lifestyle carers, granting them access to additional passes under defined compassionate circumstances.
– Volunteer and emergency exemptions: Emergency service vehicles and eligible not-for-profit organisations providing regular community services to Raymond Island will remain entirely exempt from ferry fees.
The new policy settings and an updated ferry charter are locked in to take effect in September 2026, strategically timed to align with the scheduled expiration and renewal cycle of existing passes.
The public campaign leading up to the vote included an exhaustive resident survey, formal written submissions, and a packed face-to-face councillor community meeting held on the island.
Mayor Cr Jodie Ashworth said the policy rewrite represents a textbook example of successful grassroots lobbying and civic cooperation.
“This outcome is a great example of community engagement working as it should – residents spoke up, we listened, and we made a decision that better reflects what the community needs and how council can provide the service,” Cr Ashworth said.
“Access to the ferry is fundamental to life on Raymond Island. We thank the community for engaging with us and helping shape an approach that better reflects how people live and use the service.”
Cr Ashworth noted that the changes would not only ease logistical friction for larger families dealing with lost or forgotten cards but would also drastically reduce administrative headaches for frontline staff operating the vessel.
Before the September rollout, all Raymond Island households will be mailed a comprehensive information packet outlining the practical mechanics of the updated system, alongside step-by-step instructions on how to apply for and collect their new multi-year passes.
