Man-made island in Port Phillip Bay: Lord Mayor floats idea to attract cruise ships

AN audacious plan for a man-made island in Port Phillip Bay has been floated as a way to attract “money spinner” cruise ships to Melbourne.

An audacious plan for a man-made island in Port Phillip Bay has been floated as a way to attract “money spinner” cruise ships to Melbourne. Picture: Jason Sammon

AN audacious plan for a man-made island in Port Phillip Bay has been floated as a way to attract “money spinner” cruise ships to Melbourne.

Lagging infrastructure at Station Pier has been blamed for only 76 ships docking in Melbourne last financial year, compared to 300 in Sydney.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle says an island cruise terminal could be built in the bay with passengers ferried into Docklands, rather than “lobbed in the middle of nowhere”.

“Station Pier was never made to carry these bigger and bigger and bigger luxury liners,” Cr Doyle said.

A map showing where the proposed island could be placed in Port Phillip Bay.

“Sydney do much better than us because they have a natural harbour that gives them an advantage.

“We’ve got to get smarter, as we have in all sorts of other areas, to attract these ships in. For goodness sake, Geelong is talking about building a purpose-built berthing spot for these ships.”

Docklands Chamber of Commerce president Johannah Maxwell said ferrying into Melbourne would be a “wonderful welcome” for visitors.

“The city skyline opens up before you as you come up the river into Docklands,” she said.

“Even on a cloudy day, it is absolutely magnificent.”

Victoria pocketed $161 million in cruise-related expenditure in 2014-15 — averaging more than $1 million a ship. But that paled in comparison to NSW where $1.87 billion was generated.

“This could be a money spinner for our local economy,” Cr Doyle said.

“There is enormous opportunity there but it would take federal and state government to make it a tourism priority.”

An island cruise terminal has not been costed, although the construction of previously proposed eco and tourism islands in the bay has been estimated at $24 million.

The State Government is investigating how to improve cruise ship access to Melbourne, with Station Pier only able to accommodate three ships and the Spirit of Tasmania at once.

Acting Tourism Minister Philip Dalidakis said the government would carefully consider any proposal that guaranteed a “world-class ­experience”.

“We’re conscious we need to offer our cruise ship passengers a memorable stay in Victoria,” he said.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester told the Herald Sun an upgrade to ­Station Pier was more likely to win widespread support than the island proposal.

But he said: “I’m always keen to listen to good ideas and if there are ways for Melbourne and Victoria to gain a greater share of the booming cruise industry, then we should closely consider them.”

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@moniquehore