Council ramps up opposition to Yarra Bay cruise terminal
Randwick Council has come up with some interesting ideas to showcase its opposition towards a proposed cruise ship terminal being built in its backyard.
Southern Courier
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southern Courier. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Hundreds of residents unite against proposed cruise ship terminal
- ‘Tokenistic’: Residents blast Yarra Bay cruise terminal consultation
Randwick Council has ramped up its opposition to a proposed cruise ship terminal being built in its backyard – deciding to fly street banners near Yarra Bay and also investigate how it can increase access for people wanting to use the bay.
The state government announced last year that it was considering building a cruise ship terminal at Yarra Bay or nearby Molineux Point, next to Port Botany.
Randwick Council and Bayside Council have staunchly opposed the proposal since it was put forward and have joined the fight to save the bay.
The Port Authority of NSW is putting together a detailed business case which it will submit to the state government in 2020, to make a decision on the future of the proposal.
Randwick Council ramped up its opposition to the proposal during its latest meeting this week where councillors voted unanimously to install ‘Save Yarra Bay’ street banners in the south ward.
While exact streets were not decided, councillor Carlos Da Rocha said the obvious location would be south of Kingsford.
“Especially from Bunnerong Rd coming from Kingsford all the way to La Perouse,” he said.
General manager Therese Manns confirmed it would be of “minimal cost” to the council with banners costing about $40 each.
The council also voted unanimously to investigate installing special matting at Yarra Bay beach, similar to Malabar Beach, to help people access the beach including people with disabilities, the elderly, and parents with prams.
A further decision was made for the council to write to the state government requesting the release of all information relating to the strategic business case, which was completed earlier this year by the Port Authority of NSW.
It is hoped that information will help the council and the community make informed submissions on the project.
“This community-destroying plan to build a port at Yarra Bay is like a malignant cancer and if it is not stopped in its initial stages it will spread like an uncontrolled bushfire,” councillor Noel D’Souza said.
“(It will lead) to beautiful pristine ecosystems and beaches being replaced by concrete and steel.”
Earlier this month, the Port Authority of NSW announced dates for the first round of community information sessions to inform people about the detailed business case.
The public can register here to attend one of the sessions at Prince Henry Centre in Little Bay on Friday November 29 (11am to 2pm), Saturday November 30 (10am to 1pm), and Wednesday December 4 (4pm to 7pm).
“Through consultation, we have sought to understand how locals and visitors use the area and what they value about it, to feed into the detailed business case,” a Port Authority of NSW spokeswoman said.
In August, Randwick Council decided to fund a $50,000 study looking at the potential environmental impacts a cruise terminal would have on the area.
That study is yet to be carried out.
Despite its ideal location and existing infrastructure, the federal government has made Garden Island off limits for a third cruise ship terminal in Sydney, citing national security reasons as the Navy occupies that space.