Community to celebrate at Yarra Bay Sailing Club after cruise ship terminal rejected by NSW Labor

A community in southeast Sydney is preparing to celebrate after a mega cruise ship terminal proposed by the Liberal-National government was formally rejected.

Save Yarra Bay organiser Maria Poulos has welcomed the announcement. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi)

The champagne bottles are set to be popped at a grand community party as plans for the Yarra Bay cruise terminal have been formally rejected, although the face behind the five-year grassroots campaign said the fight’s not over.

NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen joined Member for Maroubra Michael Daley to make the announcement on Friday, saying “Yarra Bay is a precious place”.

She said the Liberal Government were “hell bent on jeopardising” the historical site by bringing in “enormous cruise ships”.

Save Yarra Bay organiser Maria Poulos spoke about the relief she and many others in the community felt, after a gruelling “five-year fight”.

Ms Poulos said residents had “been through it all”, and fought the plans during Covid lockdowns, with this a “huge win for the community”.

She said the decision recognised the thousands of years of connection to the land for First Nations people.

Despite the victory, Ms Poulos said she wanted to send a message to the state government, which is now looking at alternative sites for the terminal.

“I just want this to be really clear, we’re saying no cruise ships in Botany Bay,” she said.

Save Yarra Bay posters on the beach at La Perouse, Sydney in 2020. Picture: Craig Wilson / AAP

“We’re saying, sorry no … this is our busy trading port, that should be the priority.”

Ms Poulos detailed the potential impacts if a cruise ship terminal were to be erected in Botany Bay, particularly affecting the port which she said is “the lifeblood of our economy”.

“It should be a trading port and anything else from the cruise industry is not welcomed,” she said.

When asked about whether Botany Bay was part of potential plans for the cruise ship terminal, Ms Haylen was unable to rule it out, saying “the government is taking advice about how to deal with the additional cruise industry requirements within Sydney”.

While Ms Poulos has committed to the fight, she hasn’t lost sight of the win in Yarra Bay and is excited to celebrate with the community.

She said an event is being organised at Yarra Bay Sailing Club “to recognise the effort and commitment” from everyone involved

“It’s for everyone … across the political spectrum, multiple community groups, tens of thousands of residents who were involved in the campaign,” Ms Poulos said.

La Perouse beach, Sydney. Picture: Craig Wilson / AAP

After reflecting on the years of hard work, Ms Poulos paid tribute to the Labor government who eased community concerns.

“I think it was crucial having a change of government … the former government put [the proposal] in the too hard basket after the pandemic, but they never cancelled it. For us, that’s not the same, it doesn’t put the community at ease.”

Like Ms Poulos, Yarra Bay Sailing Club president Ron Saville also welcomed the announcement with open arms.

Given the cruise ship terminal threatened the future of the club’s current location, Mr Saville said it would have had to change venues.

“We wouldn’t have been able to sail while the cruise ships were operating,” he said.

“I also live up the road from the sailing club, the roads out here and the public transport system now is already in chaos.”

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said council was “overjoyed” with the news and praised the “change in government” in rejecting the proposal which was “clearly outrageous”.

He was supported by councillor Danny Said who attended the first Save Yarra Bay meeting as Randwick Mayor.

He said he felt a “sense of euphoria”, and due to Yarra Bay being in his ward he detailed his time leading council in making a unanimous resolution to fight the “horrendous decision”.