Big ships not welcome in Tasmania’s Wineglass Bay in move endorsed by cruise industry

CRUISE ships carrying more than 100 passengers will no longer call into Wineglass Bay under a State Government review which aims to match the right vessels with the right Tasmanian port. READ THE EDITORIAL

CRUISE ships carrying more than 100 passengers will no longer call into Wineglass Bay under a State Government review which aims to match the right vessels with the right Tasmanian port.

The smaller ships which do drop by will only be allowed to do so in daylight hours and only one tourist vessel will be allowed in the bay at a time.

At the same time, Beauty Point is being considered as a new cruise ship destination to fill the void, along with Swansea, as the tourism industry works to disperse the growing number of ships into different areas.

Tourism Tasmania chief executive John Fitzgerald said other ports were expected to emerge as cruise ship contenders over time.

READ THE EDITORIAL: CRUISE REVIEW IS VERY TIMELY

The Wineglass Bay Cruise on the Schouten Passage II. Picture: SUPPLIED

The Government’s Tasmanian Cruise Market Update and Regional Ports Review 2017-18 said Beauty Point offered a range of experiences within a 1.5-hour radius including Narawntapu National Park, award-winning wineries and Launceston city.

Devonport, already home to the Spirit of Tasmania ferries, was ruled out as a large and mega cruise ship port while Bruny Island has potential to host small ships subject to further development of destination capacity and community support.

Port Davey/Bathurst Harbour was excluded due to its remoteness and Triabunna’s suitable anchorage is too far fom the marina.

Burnie has been identified as a destination where cruise ship passengers get out and about in the region and its intake of ships will climb from 30 this season to 42 in 2019-2020.

Only 29 per cent of passengers who arrive at Port Arthur take an organised shore tour outside the historic site and 44 per cent of those who arrived in Hobart got off to explore.

That number rose to 60 per cent in Burnie.

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Premier Will Hodgman said the Wineglass Bay change, which was agreed to voluntarily by the cruise ship industry, would help ease community and environmental concerns about the impact of big ships in a delicate area.

“We have had a clear input from the East Coast community about the visual and environmental impact of big vessels in Wineglass Bay,” Mr Hodgman said.

“We need to protect our brand and what is a world-class view.”

Reader Stephen Laird took this striking image of a cruise ship entering Wineglass Bay on the Freycinet Peninsula in 2015. Such visits will no longer be allowed.

Cruise ship operator Carnival Australia welcomed the review saying it wanted to develop opportunities in partnership with authorities and communities to keep the industry healthy and viable over the long term.

“We have already reviewed our calls to Wineglass Bay and have advised Tourism Tasmania that we will no longer undertake scenic cruising from 2019,” the company said.

SPARKLING MOMENT FOR VISITORS TO WINEGLASS BAY

He said there would not be a formal ban on bigger ships entering the famous bay.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania head Luke Martin said he welcomed the move.

“It was obvious that all stakeholders agreed the bay was not appropriate for big cruise ships,” Mr Martin said.

“This is a positive move and a demonstration of how we should work through issues. We want to grow cruise ship visitation but on our terms.”

Ovation of the Seas at Macquarie Wharf in Hobart. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Australian Cruise Association CEO Jill Abel said the Government’s Tasmanian Cruise Market Update and Regional Ports Review was a very useful document for the industry.

“We are willing to work with the Government around the change and look at new opportunities. And there are many of them,” Ms Abel said.

Mr Fitzgerald said the review was about matching ships with destinations and how to get passengers to stay longer and spend more.

Already the cruise ship sector is worth $50 million directly to the state.

“But we need more experiences on the ground,” he said.