Calls to transform Batemans Bay into hot cruise ship destination

Nearly decade-long calls to construct a cruise ship dock in a NSW south coast tourism hub have reignited, with a report revealing up to 50 ships would dock in the town each year.

Calls to construct a cruise ship dock in Batemans Bay have reignited.

The bold bid to transform a NSW south coast town into a must-stop cruise ship destination has reignited, with calls to construct a dock after a nearly decade old report found it would grow the tourism economy “exponentially”.

A cruise ship dock at Batemans Bay has been a topic of discussion for years, with Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber President, David Maclachlan spearheading the fight for nearly a decade.

Mr Maclachlan told this publication the construction of a cruise ship dock in the town “just made sense”, with the closest dock being 200km south in Eden.

The Business and Tourism Chamber president revealed companies such as P&O and Abercrombie had contacted his organisation, noting they wanted to dock in Batemans Bay for a number of reasons, including its proximity to Canberra and their wanting to do ‘Captial Expeditions’.

Seven years ago, Eurobodalla Council funded an investigation and report into how a dock could feasibly be built in the tourism town, with the report revealing a location and a construction cost of around $60m.

Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber President, David Maclachlan.

The report found the Hanging Rock breakwall to be the preferred location for a dock, with the construction extending the wall further into the ocean and a facility built on the land for tourists to depart the ship.

“The report found the breakwall to be the perfect spot and it really is,” Mr Maclachlan said.

The Eurobodalla Council report completed seven years ago suggested the Hanging Rock breakwall could be extended.

“It’s close enough to the town’s CBD, shops and restaurants and it also presents an opportunity for local transport companies to transport tourists into the town centre.

“Eden sees 40 ships dock there per year and it’s so good for their local economy, they get heaps of people there from all around the world; we want that too.”

The cruise ship conversation has emerged during a difficult time for Batemans Bay businesses, with many stores in the Village Centre shopping mall closing in recent months due to low customer numbers and high rent.

Mr Maclachlan said the Business and Tourism Chamber believed cruise ships docking in the town would “turn the tides” on business closures.

Hanging Rock breakwall.

“You would have 50 cruise ships docking in the town per year, all with hundreds of guests who are on holiday and have money to spend,” he said.

“The dock would pay for itself.”

Eurobodalla Council were contacted for comment on whether the cruise ship dock was something they would actively look into completing and why nothing has occurred since the report was completed seven years ago.

Despite the lack of works on the dock since the report, Mr Maclachlan said he was “hopeful” the dock would eventually be built.

“It could be in 2030, 40 even 50, but one day it will be built because it’s the perfect spot and it just makes sense,” he said.

“Hopefully it happens sooner than later.”

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