Upgrades to the Balmain East Wharf set to begin in late 2014

As part of the Transport Access Program being rolled out by the New South Wales government, the Balmain East Wharf is next in line to undergo upgrades later in the year.

This could be great news for residents of Balmain real estate, especially those using the wharf regularly for commuting purposes - helping make the nautical transportation option more reliable for people across the area. 

The upgrades will help provide better protection from the elements for those waiting at the wharf, while working towards improving safety for customers, increased accessibility for those with disabilities, impairments and prams, and more streamlined boarding spaces to increase the speed that people can board and disembark. Finally, provisions will be added to allow for a bigger capacity for ferries in the near future. 

While the plans are yet to be finalised, construction is set to begin in the later half of 2014. During this time, the wharf itself will be closed for an estimated period of five months, with workers doing their best to have the project finished as soon as possible. However, buses will be provided during this period in order to help avoid major disruptions and complications for commuters during the project's duration. 

These upgrades could be great for the future development of the Balmain region. With a bigger emphasis on sustainable living beginning to permeate into the local community, providing residents with a better, upgraded wharf could help entice more people to consider using the ferries as their desired mode of transport to and from work.

By reducing congestion on the busy roads leading into the Sydney central business district while cutting down carbon emissions at the same time, these changes could be fantastic for owners of Inner West real estate in the coming years.