Garden Island remains the key to solving Sydney’s capacity problems, according to the former Liberal leader behind the State Government’s report on growing capacity for cruise ships on Sydney Harbour.
But the committee has also opened up a series of options, including the possible development of Port Botany – preferred choice of mega ship operator Royal Caribbean.Garden Island remains the key to solving Sydney’s capacity problems, according to the former Liberal leader behind the State Government’s report on growing capacity for cruise ships on Sydney Harbour.
But the committee has also opened up a series of options, including the possible development of Port Botany – preferred choice of mega ship operator Royal Caribbean.
The report was submitted last week by Peter Collins, captain in the Royal Navy Reserves and former Liberal leader in NSW.
News of the committee’s recommendations was broken in The Daily Telegraph, in a report accompanied by graphic images of a new precinct in Potts Point and a promise the recommendations could create up to $15 billion in revenue to boost the State’s economy.
But Mr Collins told Cruise Passenger the images were “the exact opposite” of what he and his colleagues were recommending.
Speaking to the media at a site overlooking the Garden Island naval base, Mr Collins said there were absolutely no plans to remove the Navy from Garden Island, and no mention of an apartment development.
Pointing to where HMAS Canberra was moored at Garden Island, Mr Collins said this was what his report was talking about.
He confirmed that in his eyes, a wharf at this position for a cruise ship would benefit the state and the industry.
The Telegraph reported Mr Collins said his report ran through a range of options including berthing cruise liners at Botany Bay.
“But tourists want that Opera House, Harbour Bridge experience,” he said. “The glaring option is a new terminal building where the main crane used to stand.”
The Navy has yet to comment. The service’s top brass has fiercely defended Garden Island from attempts to share with cruise ships on the grounds of security and infrastructure.
NSW Ports Minister Melinda Pavey was quoted in the Telegraph as saying the report offers the Navy more resources and more space.
Mr Collins, in his interview with Cruise Passenger, was at pains to point out that previous plans to increase cruise berths in the harbour had foundered because they called for the Navy’s removal from Garden Island. His recommendations ensured the Navy, their personal and their contribution to the economy of NSW, continued.
The plans will go before Parliament before the end of the year. Talks with the Navy had yet to take place, and would only happen after the NSW Parliament has voted.
The cruise industry would get a permanent terminal. Right now, they share at the Navy’s discretion, and there hasn’t been a cruise ship on Garden Island since the QM2 in 2013.
The cruise industry has been lobbying hard, with its body Cruise Lines International Association Australasia pointing out the problems at every opportunity.
They organisation released a report just this month claiming cruise was worth more than $5 billion to the economy. But while other states were growing at up to 140 per cent, NSW was a laggard at just 6 per cent because of the port of Sydney.
Lines like Royal Caribbean have already moved ships away from NSW.
Royal Caribbean’s managing director Adam Armstrong told Cruise Passenger he was encouraged that the report was looking at several options, including Port Botany.
His line has long pushed for development at Port Botany as a longer term option.
“We think it’s a goer,” he said. “The report has identified the options. Now they have to be costed. We’re talking about big building projects. That’s going to take some time to go through.”
“We’ll take anything so long as its fit for purpose, future proofed, lasts 30 years and is built for ships like Oasis of the Seas. We don’t want to go through this again.”
Joel Katz, executive director of Cruise Lines International Association Australasia, told Cruise Passenger:
“It’s not a surprise to anyone that a shared solution for Garden Island is on the list of options for increasing capacity to accomodate large cruise ships east of the Harbour Bridge, as is Port Botany. As the numbers released last week show, NSW is losing share of the economic benefit from cruise, and the continued growth is dependent on identifying a solution to the Sydney capacity constraints.
“It’s encouraging that the Minister is confirming the government’s intention to concurrently evaluate all the options and the industry is ready to continue to work with the government to ensure that a solution is found that allows the industry to maintain its growth momentum and that the benefit continues to flow through to the economy.”
Meanwhile Destination Wollongong welcomed news that the Collis report had been delivered.
General manager Mark Sleigh said Port Kembla would share in the benefits of a stronger Sydney port, along with other regional centres in NSW.
Mr Sleigh said Destination Wollongong had submitted recommendations to Mr Collins for his report and received favourable feedback. And was confident Wollongong can look forward to growing its presence in the cruise industry and welcoming more cruise ships.
So we are just going to throw the Navy out after they have protected Sydney Harbour during the First WW and the Second WW.
These sailors have put their lives on the line past and present to keep our Country safe so now they have to fight to keep something that is sacred to them and traditional.
I don’t think it is right to move the Navy from a place that has long been tradition nor to share the Garden Island and I have a reason not only traditions but imagine one or even two large cruise ships each carrying around 4000 to 5000 passengers plus crew then you have a navy warship due in around the same time the place would be a schnozzle and traffic horrendous as there would be Tour Coaches, cars and delivery trucks etc. all trying to get in and out of the dock.
The Navy has defended Sydney Harbour and I feel it has the right to continue their presence at Garden Island and their traditions should stay for Centuries to come.
There is nothing that beats the feeling when you arrive back into Sydney Harbour after being away for even a couple of weeks and when you come around the corner at Bradleys Head Light House and you see the Harbour Bridge and the Opera house then you feel you are home and to take this away from our men and women sailors is totally wrong as they are away usually for months on end defending our great nation and when they finally arrive back and see the Harbour Bridge they can feel relief they are home safe as other Sailors have done in the past and it is a tradition that should stay, then to make things worse when they arrive at their home base and expect to see their love ones on the dock with children holding banners welcoming them home to find their families are stuck in traffic jams as a cruise ship is in port.
I think the best places to put the cruise ships is across the Harbour in the bay area near Bradleys Head as it is deep there and it is out of the shipping lanes and around the corner at Port Jackson in the bay and have removable floating pontoons that can be put into place when cruise ships are due in. These docks would be much more safer than using ships tenders to move people around and charter boats can pick up passengers from the pontoons to take on their tours or drop off at Circular Quay. They do this removable Pontoon idea all the time for the International Boat Show at Darling Harbour
I love Sydney Harbour and like seeing the different cruise ships when they arrive in Sydney Harbour but to miss out on so many advantages these ships bring would be a disaster to say the least that is why I decided to throw my ideas in the ring hoping it may be of some help in deciding where to berth these Mega ships.
Putting it in Port Botany is a mistake because of the traffic that is on the roads at peak hour plus airport traffic all trying to get in to Sydney.
By putting the ships at these pontoons there is no vehicles used in that area only boats so no added vehicle traffic to the area.
The best solution yet proposed is Garden Island for large cruise ships.
The hotels nearby would be ideal as we always stay overnight in Sydney before a cruise. Port Kembla would easily house the navel fleet that uses Garden Island now.
The answer is very simple. Move the Garden Island Naval base to Port Kembla which would in fact benefit many of the naval baseworkers who live in the west and south western suburbs of Sydney, They would be closer and quicker to work than currently is the case. That would then release Garden Island to be developed as a port for visiting ships as well as enabling the Garden Island area to be developed as a premier residential and tourist precinct for Sydney. it is a no brainer. I f only someone with some influence would realise it. The main opposition will come from the admirals who enjoy luxury living at Garden Island. The fact is, Sydney does not need to have a Naval facility in Sydney Harbour. It can be just as well served with the Naval base at Port Kembla.
Forget Port Botany it is already over extended.
Let’s look at the future for not only NSW but also the country.
We no longer need to have the Navy at Garden Island.
But the opportunity is there to make the area a primary area,for,tourism and residential,development
which would ,ultimately be beneficial to all,of us.