Scott Morrison dragged into cruise ship debate
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and recently-installed NSW Ports Minister Andrew Constance will become new lobbying targets for people living around Yarra Bay in their attempts to block plans for a cruise terminal at Port Botany.
Bayside councillors on Wednesday unanimously voted to write to Mr Morrison, whose electorate of Cook neighbours Botany Bay, and Mr Constance, who took over the ports
portfolio from Melinda Pavey following the election in March.
The Port Authority of NSW and NSW Treasury have been preparing a business case for a cruise terminal at Port Botany in response to what the cruise industry says is a shortage of port capacity.
Residents have made their views known. They say the resulting traffic on roads, loss of open space and environmental impact to the bay will be to their detriment.
Bayside Cr Christina Curry said the council had not contacted Mr Morrison before about the issue.
“It’s important we continue to keep pressure on the people responsible for decision-making,” she said.
“The impacts would be huge with traffic coming down Botany Rd, as well as the environmental impacts.”
The council will also write to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Maria Poulos Conklin of the residents group Save Yarra Bay said people wanted to know what was happening.
“We basically haven’t had any comment from the NSW or federal governments,” she said.
“People are genuinely stressed about what it means for their future — people who use the bay, people at the sailing club.
“When are they going to consult the community.”
NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres last month told The Australian a business case for a cruise terminal at Port Botany was being prepared.
Other options would be explored to accommodate the anticipated doubling in ship numbers by 2040, Mr Ayres said.
The offices of Mr Morrison and Mr Constance have been contacted for comment.
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