$50,000 study to look at dangers of Yarra Bay cruise terminal
A $50,000 study looking at potential effects a cruise ship terminal could have on Yarra Bay has been given the green light by Randwick Council.
Southern Courier
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Randwick Council has thrown its support behind a $50,000 study looking at the potential effects a mega cruise ship terminal could have on the environment and surrounding community at Yarra Bay.
The NSW Government announced in July 2018 that it was considering building a cruise ship terminal at Yarra Bay or Molineux Point, in Botany Bay, after Garden Island was ruled out to build a terminal for large and mega cruise ships.
Randwick Council and community members have opposed the proposal since it was put forward.
A business case is currently being worked on by the Port Authority of NSW to check the feasibility of introducing the terminal.
Randwick Council voted unanimously during its last meeting on Tuesday to identify consultants who can research the potential socio-economic and environmental effects a cruise ship terminal would have at Molineux Point and Yarra Bay.
The research project is estimated to cost $50,000 and will be funded by the council. However, Randwick will seek financial support from neighbours Bayside Council.
Meanwhile, a Port Authority of NSW spokeswoman said she could not disclose the time frame around when the current business case would be completed for the proposed terminal.
“The business case is the very first step in a detailed process,” she said.
“The next step in the process is a comprehensive business case which will consider the impacts and opportunities for key areas including consultation with the community, the environment, transport, financing, fishing, heritage, indigenous culture, noise, social and traffic.”
Save the Bay Coalition convener Maria Poulos, who has helped lead community opposition to the proposed terminal at Yarra Bay, was glad the council was getting behind them.
“The fight to save Yarra Bay just got real,” Ms Poulos said.
“Council has listened to the community’s concerns and is funding its own independent study on the environmental and socio-economic impacts of a terminal.
“This is a direct response to the NSW Government’s decision to push ahead with a detailed business case, despite the almost universal opposition to this preposterous and extravagant gift to the cruise industry.”
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