Pennicott ferry fight
BRUNY Island’s top tourism operator says he will “lose millions” and have to shed staff this summer unless plans for the ferry operation are fixed.
Rob Pennicott said he would be watching with concern as new operator Sealink Travel Group takes over the service this month amid controversy over capacity and ticketing.
“The model that has been approved by government is very inadequate for capacity,” Mr Pennicott said.
THIRTY-PLUS years ago, a young Will Hodgman would buy his fish and chips from a young Rob Pennicott.
The pair recalled their youthful acquaintance yesterday as Mr Hodgman, now Tasmanian Premier, officially opened a $7.5 million state-of-the-art visitor centre and restaurant for Mr Pennicott, now one of the state’s top tourism operators.
Dressed in his usual shorts and battered Blundstone boots, Mr Pennicott told a crowd of local worthies, tourism operators and Bruny Island locals that, on reflection, he had come a long way.
“I wouldn’t have dreamt this would have occurred 20 years ago and to be here now is quite incredible,” he said.
“I’ve just grown organically and I grow year to year organically without too much planning.”
Mr Pennicott’s cruises, especially those off Bruny Island, have won 12 Australian tourism awards and 26 Tasmanian tourism awards.
He said he hoped the new centre would appeal to visitors and Bruny Island locals.
Mr Pennicott said his next ambition was to expand into the Victorian market.
He also plans on perfecting the old favourite that first brought him in contact with a young Will Hodgman.
“I’m aiming for the best fish and chips in the world,” he said. The traditional fare will be served in his new restaurant, which has seating for more than 300 people.
The building is powered by solar panels and batteries, has its own water supply, deals with sewage on site and boasts thousands of plants to help offset its carbon emissions.
Mr Hodgman said Mr Pennicott was one of the state’s best tourism operators and the centre was a great addition to the island.
“It’s a sign of the times, I think, that a development of this scale is environmentally sensitive but also captures the essence of Bruny Island,” he said.
“Somebody who is so closely connected to this island like Rob Pennicott will deliver another wonderful offering for the people who visit here and the people who live here.”