THE long-awaited Cruise Development Plan released by the NSW Government yesterday (TD breaking news) has firmly ruled out the possibility of an additional cruise terminal at Garden Island due to the “significant challenges in sharing berth space alongside the Navy”.
Instead, the plan will create a strategic business case for a third terminal in nearby Botany Bay, with Molineaux Point and Yarra Bay mooted as possibilities.
“Our state has been the victim of its own success when it comes to cruise, with existing facilities such as the Overseas Passenger Terminal and White Bay struggling to keep up with significant growth in passenger and ship visitation,” said NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey.
“The plan unveiled today will build on the NSW Government’s $175 million investment in cruise infrastructure,” she said.
As well as looking at the Botany Bay passenger cruise berthing options, the plan envisages a booking system at the Overseas Passenger Terminal to maximise passenger utilisation, improvements to transport connections at White Bay, investigating the use of Hayes Dock at Port Botany as an interim solution, and funding options for infrastructure to support cruise ships at regional ports.
The Cruise Development Plan would also “build the profile and appeal of NSW as a leading cruise destination by reviewing funding options for a cooperative marketing fund for data collection and marketing with Destination NSW, the cruise industry and regions,” according to a formal statement from the Government.
The full plan is now online at industry.nsw.gov.au/cruise.
Source: traveldaily