Government looks at increasing capacity at White Bay and OPT

by Bernadette Chua

Carnival Spirit sails into Sydney harbour

The NSW State Government is trying to find ways to increase capacity at White Bay and the Overseas Passenger Terminal to mitigate Sydney’s cruise crisis.

The moves come as what was hailed as a solution to the long-term capacity crisis of the harbour appeared to be running into an increasingly sophisticated lobbying campaign to block a terminal at Port Botany or Yarra Bay.

Just last Friday at their annual conference, cruise Industry leaders were celebrating the NSW Government’s decision to go with Port Botany as the city’s new cruise terminal solution.

White Bay Cruise Terminal
White Bay Cruise Terminal. Image: Port Authority of NSW

But 24 hours later, fresh opposition came from a surprising source. Airline pilots claimed a temporary terminal could be dangerous for air traffic.

The locality with an airport and container port on its doorstep maintains it has had enough. Local council Randwick opposes the idea, and have the support of some state MPs.

While that battle plays out, the cruise industry is still under pressure as more demand and fewer berths threaten one of NSW’s biggest tourism growth industries.

Now, the Port Authority is looking with new vigour for fresh temporary solutions.
The authority has, in the past, suggested the idea of double berthing – a ‘stacking’ system which involved two ships using the terminal, one arriving in the early hours, and one arriving just after lunch.

But the idea was not welcomed by the cruise industry with lines saying that it was unfair to passengers disembarking in the early hours of the morning.

A spokesperson from Port Authority of NSW told Cruise Passenger: “Port Authority is continually exploring options to address capacity via operational efficiencies and policy changes that lead to better utilisation of berths. This has included the implementation of a new booking system in late 2017 that allows Port Authority to better manage overbookings, cancelations and slot amendments efficiently.

“At White Bay, where there is berthing availability for ships that can pass under Sydney Harbour Bridge, Port Authority has implemented measures to attract boutique brands to increase visitation of international passengers.

“Port Authority continues to work closely with industry on solutions to address cruise capacity both in the short and longer term.”

Joel Katz, the head of the Cruise Lines International Association said it was important that the industry looks at all options possible.

“The Cruise Development Plan included a commitment by the government to further investigate short and longer term options to increase capacity in Sydney, and to maximise the use of existing infrastructure,” he said.

“As an industry we support the process outlined in the Cruise Development Plan, and will continue to engage with the NSW government to ensure that any recommendations are appropriate to support the continued growth of the industry.’

But there has been much opposition to the federal government’s decision to rule out Garden Island as Sydney’s much needed second cruise terminal.

Instead, the federal government has advised that Port Botany and Yarra Bay would be the best spot for the proposed development.

Earlier this month, Randwick Council unanimously voted for Yarra Bay Beach and Frenchman’s Beach to become state heritage-listed to stave off any development.

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7 thoughts on “Government looks at increasing capacity at White Bay and OPT”

  1. I agree with Greg comments above. Newcastle Harbour is in the process of building one there. When they get there finger out. Rail is near the terminal Williamtown Airport not to far away could have a better shuttle service or air bus transport.
    P and O had the Pacific Sun in Newcastle and had the larger ship visit the port. QE2 Voyager of The Seas etc have used the port.

  3. If the government is having such a hard time deciding where to put the ships then why doesn’t the Government ask the public for ideas as someone out there might be sitting on a solution to this issue but is not been heard.
    But to be honest who thought of the idea to move the cruise ships out to Botany, was it the government because if it was I’m voting them out in the next election.
    The roads into and out of Port Botany are a nightmare especially during peak times, just drive along General Holmes Drive at peak hour, it’s a mess and then you will have who knows how many ships in port at the same time maybe 8,000 to 10,000 passengers to add to the peak hour mix then passengers trying to get to the ships and planes and I’m not finished yet, then there is the people who get driven to the terminal. I can see shuttles buses making a killing on this type of idea as you are stuck at the terminal at Botany as there is no real direct transport, for example at the moment it costs me to travel to Circular Quay around $2.50 then around $8 from Pyrmont to White Bay by Captain Cook ferry and so all up $10.50 and only one bus and a ferry but if it is at Port Botany my transport costs will go through the roof and more than double my travel time. As it is the costs of a shuttle bus from White Bay to Town Hall was around $15 and around $20 to airport per person to get to the ship and then return and if you have family in tow “ouch”
    I think this is a good argument to why we should not go to Port Botany.
    I think the Government has not really tried hard enough to come up with great ideas.
    One suggestion I have.
    Years ago there was an aircraft carrier call HMAS Melbourne and I am talking yeas ago, the Navy decommissioned it and berthed it in the cove west of Bradley’s Head and on the east side of Bradley’s Head is Port Jackson Bay. I would imagine if an Aircraft Carrier can berth there it must be deep so why not have the cruise ships berth there with a temporary pontoon and ferries and tourist boats pick up passengers from there. Have a look at the Seawalk in https://www.seawalk.no/ Gerianger Norway. This Seawalk comes to the ship and the ship just parks then waits for the floating pier to move into place pretty much the same way as an airbridge hooks up to a plane at the airport and no damage to ship or dock as ship will be stopped.
    There is two places to put it in place. one west side of Bradley’s Head and the other is the east side of Bradley’s Head Port Jackson Bay.
    Maybe someone out there is good at drawing an artist impression of how it would look as I am hopeless at drawing.
    I do not want to travel to Port Botany as it would be a real pain in the butt.

  4. Being a resident at Botany Bay I could not think of anything worse for the community and environment or more selfish then putting a terminal in Yarra bay. Stop trying to fill your greedy pockets at our expense. Please stop emailing me like it’s a good thing and then going on like the local community shouldn’t have a say in it. We don’t need want or like your industry. Sail away please

  5. I agree, Melbourne would be a fantastic alternative, even fitting four ships a day allowing for a smaller one to head up river to Docklands, however, Station Pier needs an upgrade and also the area that is occupied by an old burnt out restaurant(?) near the entrance to the pier should be acquired and a tourist/transport hub built there. Once done, Melbourne would overrun Sydney as a destination

  6. Increase the size pf the yet to be completed Newcastle terminal. Sydney is just greedy and they want everything. Lots of Newcastle travellers can’t wait for the first time cruise ships come to our port. Need more flights to and from our airport as well.

  7. IF SYDNEY HAS THIS PROBLEM WITH TOO MANY CRUISE SHIPS WHY DONT THE CRUISE COMPANYS ALSO LOOK AT MELBOURNE YOU DONT GET CRUISE LINERS THERE EVERY DAY WHY CARN’T MELBOURNE HAVE MORE I THINK THAT THEY CAN POSSIBLELY GET 2 TO 3 LINES IN AT STATION PIER HAS IT EVER BEEN LOOKED AT.

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