New South Wales seeks site for third cruise ship terminal

NSW is looking for a site for a new cruise ship terminal as the industry heads into a record $4.41 billion season.

Sector growth of 60.4% compared to the previous financial year has prompted a search and upgrade to electrify the White Bay Cruise Terminal in Roselle.

The State Government said it was looking for a site after data was released by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the Australian Cruise Association.

And this month the world’s largest cruise ship arrived, docking at Eden Cruise Marina on the South Coast. Royal Princess made possible by the expansion of the marina, as well as policy amendments to allow overnight stays, and the lifting of the 60-vessel per year cap.

In the meantime, a panel of cruise and tourism industry experts has been assembled to work to identify the preferred location for the state’s third cruise terminal.

While Sydney’s cruise terminals have not yet reached capacity, the group is identifying options for the future of the facility to support the long-term growth of the cruise industry.

The group will also consider options to increase capacity at the international passenger terminal at The Rocks on Sydney Harbour.

Developments at the Port of Eden and other locations across the country are expected to support growth in the sector, creating opportunities for development to support this growth.

Larger cruise ships could bring $8.77 million to Eden’s economy, according to Bega MP Michael Holland.

“Last year at this time the Princess Royal would have been 5m too long to dock at Eden, but with new changes to port operations Eden will be able to see larger ships and more frequent visits,” he said.

“According to CLIA, each cruise season, international cruise passengers can spend up to $283 per day, contributing millions to local economies like ours.”

Port Authority chief executive Philip Holliday said they are working with cruise lines to continue to grow the sector across the state.

“Since the first cruise ship arrived at Eden in 2005, there have been approximately 150 cruise ship visits and more than 235,000 passengers have visited Eden,” Halliday said.

“The latest CLIA data shows that more than six in 10 people who go on a cruise say they returned to the destination they first visited on a cruise ship.”

In the region, plans for shops on the Sapphire Coast were submitted in February as the first phase of a new South Coast site proposed by Sydney-based Justice Fox Property Group.

They are part of a larger 18-hectare site dubbed the Eden Harbor Quarter, which will eventually be developed into commercial and tourist housing.

The plans are being reviewed by the Southern Regional Planning Panel.