‘Kick in the guts’: Yarra Bay cruise terminal moves ahead to next stage
An announcement has been made by the state government that it is moving ahead with the next stage of a planned cruise terminal near Port Botany - but not everybody is happy, with one group vowing to fight the proposal.
Southern Courier
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The state government has announced it is moving ahead with the next stage of planning for a proposed cruise terminal at Yarra Bay for large and mega cruise ships — ramping up its engagement with industry leaders.
However, the Save the Bay Coalition, which has 2600 members, has called the announcement a “kick in the guts” and has vowed to increase its efforts to fight the proposal for a terminal in the quiet bay, near Port Botany.
An announcement was made this morning by Minister for Transport Andrew Constance and Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres stating that a detailed business case had begun for the proposed terminal.
It is the next stage in the planning process, following on from an initial strategic business case recently completed by the Port Authority of NSW.
Port Authority of NSW chief executive Grant Gilfillan revealed earlier this month that a terminal at Yarra Bay or nearby Molineux Point was “technically” feasible, when questioned about the outcome of the initial business case.
The next stage is now underway and will include a series of meetings with industry leaders throughout October who can give deeper insight into the feasibility and market appetite for the proposed terminal at Yarra Bay.
Registrations of interest to take part in the industry engagement process are currently open.
The detailed business case will also look at a range of other issues and include community consultation, despite no date being given for when that will happen.
Today’s announcement coincided with the Majestic Princess docking at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney Harbour marking the start of the summer cruise season.
“The cruise industry creates $2.75 billion for the state’s economy each year. We’re expecting almost 1.6 million passengers this cruise season alone,” Mr Constance said.
“This potential terminal at Port Botany would address the capacity constraints we’re seeing at the Overseas Passenger Terminal.”
However, Save the Bay Coalition convenor Maria Poulos said they were disappointed the state government was undergoing comprehensive consultation with industry leaders when it was still yet to reach out with any community consultation.
“They are consulting comprehensively with the cruise industry and the community has been left hanging once again. It shows they are absolutely full speed ahead,” she said.
“They have decided to proceed with market sounding and you have to question how meaningful community consultation will be if that is where they are at.
“We are now going to rev up our efforts to fight this and we will do it with every tool in our arsenal from legal challenging to building a community case to bringing the community together (to protest).”
She said today’s announcement was a “kick in the guts” and it would be tragic to lose the bay to the cruise industry.
“It is so important to our community in the southeast suburbs and they think it is OK to hand it over to the foreign cruise industry.”
Maroubra state Labor MP Michael Daley said the community would not allow the proposal to go ahead.
“If the NSW Liberals think locals will just roll over and accept a mega cruise-terminal that will destroy our beach, heritage and cause traffic chaos then they have another thing coming.”
The NSW Government announced in July 2018 that it was considering building a cruise terminal at Yarra Bay or nearby Molineaux Point to help cater for the booming cruise industry during peak season.
Garden Island was the initial choice for a third terminal in Sydney but it was ruled out because of concerns it would interfere with the navy which occupies that space.
Randwick Council Mayor Kathy Neilson said the council strongly opposed a terminal being built at Yarra Bay.
The has agreed to spend $50,000 on a study looking at the potential environmental and soci-economic effects of the terminal.
“There has been consistent opposition from the local community to a cruise ship terminal at Yarra Bay since it was first proposed in July 2018.
“As a council we continue to fight on behalf of our community to oppose the devastation and overdevelopment that a terminal would bring to the area.
“Yarra Bay has a strong Aboriginal connection, with families enjoying an uninterrupted connection to the land for thousands of years.
“The area is also home to recreational sailing, kayaking, diving, fishing and a recreational area for tens of thousands of locals and visitors who come to the area to enjoy swimming in the calm waters.”
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