Frequently Asked Questions

We are upgrading the Penneshaw and Cape Jervis ports, increasing the facilities lifespan, and supporting continued ferry services operating between Kangaroo Island (KI) and the mainland. This project is funded by the South Australian Government.

Effective, safe, and reliable port infrastructure at Cape Jervis and Penneshaw is critical to the economic success of KI. The berthing and mooring structures at Cape Jervis and Penneshaw ports form part of the essential link between KI and the mainland for cars, freight and passengers and will be upgraded as part of the project.

Works have commenced at Cape Jervis and Penneshaw. Main construction works are scheduled to be complete at both locations in early 2025, weather permitting.

On completion, the upgraded ports will feature new fit-for-purpose facilities including improved berthing areas, additional navigational equipment, and enhanced passenger amenities. It will facilitate an increased number of ferry services with faster turnaround times and improve safety for passengers and the new, larger vessels particularly during adverse weather and storms.

KI and the Fleurieu Peninsula are key destinations for visitors and tourism. They are also important freight routes for South Australian produce including dairy, livestock, wine and distillers. To support economic growth in these regions, and deliver improved essential transport services, the Department is upgrading the ports at Cape Jervis and Penneshaw.

The current berthing and mooring structures are no longer fit-for-purpose having originally been designed for smaller ferries. They are also nearing the end of their service life. Currently, they present costly maintenance challenges due to corroded steelwork, worn out components as well as decreased reliability.

We understand the vital importance of the ferry service to and from KI for residents, tourists, and freight. Access to ferry services during construction will be maintained. While services will remain operational, if timetable changes are required, to facilitate some works, advance notice of any impacts will be provided, in consultation with service providers.

The Department has and will continue to work closely with SeaLink to ensure that the upgraded facilities cater for the new vessels proposed to be used by SeaLink as part of their passenger services to and from KI.

These upgrades will cater for the new, larger SeaLink ferries and will deliver improved access for passengers and vehicles. They will also provide greater safety for vessels and for passengers when ferries are berthed particularly during adverse weather and storms.

We will ensure impacts are minimised and mitigated as much as practically possible. Local traffic management, noise, dust and other construction impacts will be managed in accordance with legislative requirements and Departmental guidelines. Signage and traffic management staff will be on site to assist.

At Cape Jervis, the main construction office has been established within the secure long term parking area. Access for users will be maintained, however due to heavy vehicle movements access may be restricted for short periods as vehicles and equipment move in and out of the compound. Please observe signage and follow the directions of onsite traffic controllers.

Access to the carpark north of the lighthouse will be restricted to accommodate a construction laydown compound and will remain restricted until project completion in early 2025. A heavy vehicle turnaround, and overflow parking, will be maintained in this area throughout construction.

In Penneshaw, site facilities have been constructed on North Terrace and changed traffic conditions are in place to ensure public and worker safety in and around work zones. Bus parking remains near the terminal and some additional casual parking has been created on Bay Terrace to accommodate visitors to the terminal precinct. A new temporary operational access point for SeaLink staff has been installed.

To safely upgrade and operate the new port facility at Cape Jervis, which will accommodate the new, larger ferry vessels and achieve faster turnaround times, unfortunately the existing public jetty at Cape Jervis cannot be retained. We appreciate some people are disappointed with this outcome.

The jetty must be removed to accommodate the new berthing infrastructure that is required to facilitate the new ferry’s operations at the port and to improve navigational safety.

The position of this jetty is very close to the navigational channel, particularly with the new ferry vessels and the increased number of ferry services with faster turnaround times. Without a suitable distance between people and an operating commercial port, there is a risk to both ferry operations and public safety. Therefore, to ensure public safety, it is not possible to construct a replacement jetty at this same location.

The jetty was closed on Tuesday 2 April 2024. 

We appreciate the importance of recreational fishing to the local and visiting community. Separately to this project, the Department is exploring alternative options for recreational fishing in the area and invites community to provide their feedback via the Cape Jervis Harbor Precinct Master Plan, details can be found on the Master Plan website www.dit.sa.gov.au/infrastructure/road_projects/master-planning-for-harbour-precincts

The project is confined to the port and will not have any significant impact to the boat ramp. To facilitate launching of on-water barges and equipment, some short-term impacts may be experienced, however these will be communicated in advance and scheduled to minimise impacts to users as much as possible.

Access to parking, vehicle loading, and the ferry terminal will be maintained at all times. Some minor changes to access may be required throughout construction, any changes to access will be communicated via on-site signage and traffic management personnel.

We will provide advanced notification of any significant changes to passenger and vehicle access as the project progresses. A Penneshaw temporary works layout plan is available to view online.

Changes to the existing vehicle manoeuvring areas and car parking at the Cape Jervis and Penneshaw ferry terminals is not within the scope of the ports upgrade project. The Department is developing broader masterplans for the Cape Jervis and Penneshaw harbour precincts and will consider the terminal areas. For more information about the Master Plans please visit www.dit.sa.gov.au/infrastructure/road_projects/master-planning-for-harbour-precincts

The Penneshaw Public Jetty provides a critical access point for cruise ship tenders and operations on Kangaroo Island. As part of the Kangaroo Island Ports Upgrade the Penneshaw Public Jetty will be refurbished and access from the shore will be realigned to improve safety and access for all harbour users.

The jetty refurbishment will improve existing jetty infrastructure extending its operational life for all users.  Refurbishment works will also realign public access to the jetty, disconnecting it from ferry operations, meaning that temporary closures of the jetty while ferries are berthing will no longer be necessary. This will provide a greater degree of separation between commercial port operations and recreational activities within the Penneshaw Harbour, improving safety and access for all harbour users.

Yes. We have undertaken consultation and engagement with the relevant representative bodies to determine the appropriate management of the cultural and heritage aspects of the Project area. This engagement will continue throughout the project.

Construction activities will be carefully staged to ensure that any potential inconvenience to cruise ships and tourism activities are minimised. We will continue to work closely with key tourism stakeholders such as the South Australian Tourism Commission and Kangaroo Island Tourism Alliance to ensure the work is delivered smoothly.

At Penneshaw,  cruise ship tender access will be accommodated through the construction of a temporary berthing pontoon on the inside of the breakwater. For a detailed layout map and concept render please visit the temporary cruise access page.

We know how important the cruise ship industry is to Kangaroo Island and we have made a commitment to ensure cruise ship tenders can continue to berth at Penneshaw during the Port Upgrade.

Along with our contractor, we have been investigating possible interim solutions for cruise ship tenders at Penneshaw. Options considered included Christmas Cove Marina and a temporary facility within the Penneshaw Port, adjacent the current facility.

To assist with these investigations, site surveys were undertaken in the area, as well as meetings with key stakeholders such as the South Australian Tourism Commission, the Kangaroo Island Tourism Alliance and KI Council.

It has been determined that temporary facilities within the Penneshaw Port is the most suitable solution. These facilities will be in place ready to be used for cruise ship tender berthing when cruises resume in October 2024. This option will ensure uninterrupted tourism to Kangaroo Island, while allowing construction of the new berthing and mooring infrastructure to continue.

On completion of the project, the existing cruise ship landing and realigned jetty will reopen to the public, ensuring a seamless transition and access for cruise ship passengers to explore Kangaroo Island.

Temporary facilitates to accommodate cruise ship tender berthing operations are being constructed within the Penneshaw Port.  These facilitates will include the installation of a temporary floating pontoon, allowing tenders to berth and passengers to disembark onto a newly constructed temporary footpath along the existing breakwater. The construction of these facilities will ensure tourism on Kangaroo Island is not interrupted while works to deliver the new port infrastructure continue.

To ensure everyone’s safety access to these temporary facilities will be restricted to cruise ship passengers and staff only and will not be publicly accessible. On completion of the project, the existing cruise ship landing and realigned jetty will reopen to the public, ensuring a seamless transition and access for cruise ship passengers to explore Kangaroo Island.

We will continue to work closely with key tourism stakeholders such as the South Australian Tourism Commission and Kangaroo Island Tourism Alliance to ensure minimal impacts to tourism throughout construction.

For a detailed layout map and concept render please visit the temporary cruise access page.

Community and stakeholder engagement will be critical to the successful delivery of the ports upgrade. The Department is committed to ensuring open and continuous communication throughout the construction process.

We understand the importance of staying connected with our community to answer any questions and provide regular updates. Stay up to date on the project and register for ongoing project updates by visiting: www.dit.sa.gov.au/KIPorts or contacting the project engagement team by email at DIT.KangarooIsland@sa.gov.au, or by calling 1300 794 880.

To limit impacts to ferry services a significant portion of work at Penneshaw will need to be undertaken at night. Every effort will be made to minimise the impact of night works in the community and to the environment by utilising noise and light management tools.

Advance notice of nightworks will be communicated through electronic signage systems in place at the Penneshaw harbour precinct. These systems will provide advanced notice of all upcoming night works.  We also encourage you to subscribe for project updates. Those registered will receive regular project updates, as well as notice of all upcoming night works in Penneshaw.

Piling involves the placing of large columns (piles) into the seabed, which acts as a stable, secure foundation for the new infrastructure we are installing. We are using a ‘bored’ piling method which significantly reduces vibration levels and noise disturbances during piling works.

As part of this project, 31 permanent piles will be installed across both locations.

We are utilising a ‘bored’ piling method, enabling piles to be installed directly into pre-bored holes. This type of piling produces significantly less noise compared to driven piles, minimising noise and vibration levels to the community and local environment.

All piling works will be compliant with the Department’s Underwater Piling and Dredging Noise Guideline. This guideline is publicly available online.

Marine fauna specific mitigation measures will be in place whenever piling works are undertaken. These measures include the utilisation of trained marine fauna spotters, who will halt impactful works if marine mammals are spotted within the exclusion zone.  Soft start procedures, which gradually increase noise over time, will be utilised whenever piling works are undertaken. This approach allows marine mammals to exit the area before impactful works commence.

We acknowledge the paramount importance of marine life and the environment on Kangaroo Island and at Cape Jervis and recognise the delicate balance that exists between development and environmental preservation.

As part of our commitment to safeguarding marine life and the environment, an independent environmental impact assessment was undertaken prior to the commencement of works. This assessment helped to inform our construction methodology and ensure suitable mitigation measures were in place.

Some of the mitigation measures that will be implemented include:

• The utilisation of trained marine fauna spotters to identify the presence of any marine mammals near the work zone before piling works commence.
• Soft start piling procedures, which gradually increase the sound disturbance in the area over time to ensure any sensitive marine mammals can leave the area before works start.

The duration of the project means some overlap into whale migration season is unavoidable. This was identified in the pre-construction environmental impact assessments. Consideration of the existing marine noise environment within the operational ports, and the implementation of specific mitigation measures are considered sufficient to manage any potential impacts.

Piling works will commence in early August and be undertaken over a three-month period. Piling works will not be undertaken continuously during this time. These works will be carefully managed with consideration of migratory whales in the area.

On site signage will provide the community with up-to-date information on upcoming piling works.

We understand the significance of the Little Penguin colony at Penneshaw, and how important it is that we protect this species. Comprehensive ecological surveys have been undertaken in partnership with the Penneshaw Penguin Centre and the KI Landscape Board, to determine the presence of nearby active burrows. The findings outlined in these surveys have informed our construction methodology and mitigation measures.

Some of the mitigation measures that will be implemented include:

• Inclusion of Little Penguin specific information in site inductions to ensure all workers are aware of nearby burrows.
• Installation of noise barriers around generators.
• Use of directional lighting, which will focus on the work site and be directed away from identified burrows; and
  
• Noise management practices, such as the use of bored piles where possible, to minimise vibrational and noise disturbances.

We will continue to work closely with the Penneshaw Penguin Centre to review our mitigation and construction methodology, ensuring we protect and safeguard the unique environment of Kangaroo Island.