Tag Archives: cruise ship terminal

Labor Government blocks progress on offshore cruise ship terminal on The Spit

Posted: May 24, 2022

Australia, Press Release, , , ,

The Labor government are refusing to approve the latest plan for an offshore cruise ship terminal on The Spit

State Development Minister Anthony Lynham at a Community Cabinet meeting declared no state land or funding would be made available for a terminal on The Spit.

A change of government will be needed by Mayor Tom Tate to get his dream project approved but maintained it was “still very much alive”.

Earlier this month city councillors sanctioned $866,000 on supplementary studies to grasp if the Mayor’s election pledge was sustainable but are now being petitioned to stop the spending.

Main Beach Association president David Hutley has written to all councillors asking what land would be used and how the project would be funded.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “Until you and the other councillors get the answers … we would urge you to stop spending ratepayers’ money on this project,” he wrote.   [/pullquote]

Dr Lynham confirmed he had told community group leaders the Government would stand by its election commitment.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “I indicated that the Government would not support development on the Broadwater, Wavebreak Island, The Spit north of Sea World and the ocean beaches,” he said.   [/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “This is in line with Labor’s election commitment to the people of the Gold Coast — to protect the Gold Coast’s northern beaches and South Stradbroke Island … from developments which will destroy their public amenity.”   [/pullquote]

Mr Hutley said in a meeting with ministers, directors and the Premier showed there had been no talks between the council and the Government on the cruise ship terminal.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “Essentially it was something the State Government was completely unaware of,” Mr Hutley said.   [/pullquote]

The initial cruise ship option set forth by the mayor during the recent election showed a 362m-long pier crossing into Philip Park on the southern end of the existing car park, opposite Sea World.

A subsequent option was a three-in-one resolution announced last month which involved upgrading the sand bypass operation and extending the jetty at The Spit’s northern end.

The Government owns and operates the jetty and Philip Park is Transport Department land.

Cr Tate said: “The ocean-side cruise ship proposal is very much still alive and council has committed $800,000 in 2016-17 to undertake initial feasibility studies into several options.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “These funds were in reserve from the former Broadwater Marine Project.”   [/pullquote]

Cr Tate said the council would put its case to the Government once officers completed initial feasibility studies.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Nothing worth pursuing comes easily and I am simply not willing to watch tens of millions of dollars in tourism dollars float by our city every year — literally,” he said.[/pullquote]

Queensland Is Sailing Towards A $2 Billion Cruising Boom As Sydney Runs Out Of Space

Posted: April 17, 2022

Australia, , , , , , ,

As Sydney runs out of space to accommodate the cumulative amount of cruise ships sailing to Australia, the Sunshine State has turned out to be home to more cruise ship ports than anywhere else in the country and industry leaders say Queensland is set to be the big winner

Concept design for the planned mega-cruise ship terminal

Concept Design For The Planned Cruise Ship Terminal.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “Sydney is pretty much full during the peak season. We continue to see double-digit growth in the sector. That’s where Brisbane, and Queensland, has the biggest opp­or­tunity,” Cruise Lines International Association general manager Brett Jardine said.   [/pullquote]

During the Asian off-season, Queensland will be cashing in on the booming market of Chinese tourists taking cruises, as the cruise ships that are typically bases in Asian ports are likely to come to Queensland to operate in their off-season.

The Port of Brisbane is preparing a detailed business case for a $100 million mega-ship terminal at Luggage Point, at the entrance of the Brisbane River, and anticipates to start assembly next year to allow more cruise ships to visit.

Currently Brisbane doesn’t have the facilities to host lines over 270m long, but my 2020, the expected cruise ships over 270m long will grow by more than 60 per cents

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “We are seeking to develop a dedicated passenger terminal that would make Brisbane a major domestic and international cruise destination, bringing thousands of additional visitors to Queensland each year,” Port of Brisbane chief executive Roy Cummins said.   [/pullquote]

Meanwhile, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is steaming ahead with plans for a cruise ship terminal at The Spit.

In 2015, Queensland received 275 ships and 645,942 passengers, up more than 140,000 compared to 2014, making Queensland the fastest-growing cruise market in the country.

In 2015, cruise passengers injected $749.7 million to the Queensland economy, this number is predicted to surge this year as different ­destinations, including Fraser Island and Gladstone, are added to cruise ship itineraries.

Over the next two decades the new Brisbane cruise terminal is anticipated to multiple the industry’s fiscal profits to almost $2 billion a year.

Cairns, Townsville and the Whitsundays are also keen to boost the number of liner visits.

 

Tate Gives The Framework For Gold Coast’s $70 Million Cruise Terminal

Posted: February 24, 2022

Australia, Press Release, , , , ,

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate propositions to spend a “modest $70 million” to build a cruise ship terminal on the ocean side of the Southport Spit in his key bid to maintain the mayoralty.

But, community group Save Our Spit described the bid as a “distraction” without enough information to truly judge and question its impact on ocean sand drift.

But there is a obstacle! Community group Save Our Spit labelled the bid as a “distraction” lacking information to really judge and question its effect on ocean sand drift.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]  “Theme-Park Buggieswill cart passengers from the proposed terminal along an 800-metre jetty” explains Cr Tate.   [/pullquote]


[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “If you’ve been to Universal Studios you get off the ship and you get on to those long buggies,” he said.   [/pullquote]


[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “I’d theme it that it is arriving at one of the biggest theme park in the world; that is the city of the Gold Coast.”
   [/pullquote]

Cr Tate estimated a cruise ship terminal on the Southport Spit would inject up to $30 million into the Gold Coast economy, due to the 140,000 new visitors each year.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “It would be half a nautical mile to the ocean,” Cr Tate said of his cruise ship terminal, which would need to be in a minimum of 16 metres of water at low tide   [/pullquote]

In 2012, Cr Tate considered an ocean-side cruise ship terminal. Which became part of the previous state government multi-billion model for Wavebreak Island inside the Southport Broadwater.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “I have respect for the Premier’s wishes” he said.   [/pullquote]


[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “She has said she did not want a cruise ship terminal going inside the Broadwater and here we are we are on the ocean side.”   [/pullquote]

Cr Tate believed the suggestion was “far more modest” compared to the Wavebreak Island plan.

If he gained the mayoralty, Cr Tate said he would have thorough environment and engineering work complete on his ocean-side proposal.

Cr Tate said he had not spoken with the ASF Consortium, which supported the first Gold Coast Cruise ship terminal, about his new proposal.

Endorsement For Stage One Of Brisbane’s Second Cruise Terminal

Posted: February 13, 2023

Australia, Press Release, , , , , , , , , ,

The Queensland government confirmed today the tender led by Carnival Australia and Royal Caribbean International to construct a A$100m (US$71m) mega cruise facility at Luggage Point at the mouth of the Brisbane River.

Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd CEO, Roy Cummins, said Brisbane’s second cruise ship terminal would deliver substantial economic and tourism benefits for Queensland.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]‘We are pleased the Queensland government recognises the need for a mega ship cruise facility in Brisbane and Port of Brisbane’s commitment to delivering the best possible outco mes for the State in the shortest possible timeframes,’ he said.[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]‘Cruise ships are getting longer and currently there is no dedicated facility in Brisbane to accommodate vessels longer than 270mtrs. By 2020 mega ships will represent approximately 60% of Brisbane’s vessel calls and without a new facility Brisbane and Queensland may miss out on future visits.’[/pullquote]

Cummins said this is Queensland’s opportunity to grow its share of the cruise market.

He said the facility would enable Brisbane to become a base port for international and domestic cruises.

Port of Brisbane will now complete a detailed design and all required environmental and technical investigations, with the final proposal subject to government, PBPL board and key stakeholder approval.

Port of Brisbane will now go through comprehensive assessments of its design and all obligatory environmental and technical surveys.

Carnival Australia applauded the Queensland government’s choice to allow further investigation of the new terminal for Brisbane.

Carnival Australia executive chairman Ann Sherry said Brisbane is one of Australia’s main cruise hubs and ‘deserves a cruise facility that can cater for the growing number of larger vessels in the region.’

Royal Caribbean International regional Vice President Asia Pacific, Gavin Smith, said ‘we are delighted that the Queensland government has recognised the opportunity that the Luggage Point Cruise Terminal provides for the Queensland economy and community.’

Smith said almost all of the company’s ships are restricted to Fisherman’s Island because of height and length restrictions.

He said the second cruise terminal is a prerequisite to the continued growth of the cruise industry in Queensland.

Port Of Brisbane Plans For New Luggage Point Cruise Ship Terminal

Posted: October 18, 2022

Australia, Press Release, , , , , , , , ,

The state government and the Port of Brisbane are in negotiations to build a new cruise terminal near the mouth of the Brisbane River that could accommodate the new breed of superliner.

The inability of Portside Hamilton, upstream from the Gateway Bridges, to accommodate larger vessels has seen ships, such as Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, dock at container yards at Fisherman Islands.

The $750 million Hamilton Portside cruise ship terminal opened in August 2006, but two years later the need for a larger capacity facility was already being voiced.

State Development Minister Anthony Lynham said plans were already underway at a business lunch this week.

When discussing the impact of Echo Entertainment’s Queens Wharf development on the state’s economy, Dr Lynham said transport facilities, such as Brisbane Airport’s parallel runway and a new cruise terminal, were needed to maximise Brisbane’s tourism dollar.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”The second runway is on track and I’m in negotiations as well – initial negotiations, I will say – on a cruise ship terminal down near the mouth of the Brisbane River to take those big cruise ships,” he said.[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”So for us, for tourism in Brisbane and in south-east Queensland it’s just go, go, go, all leading towards when this resort opens.”[/pullquote]

A spokeswoman for Dr Lynham later sought to downplay the significance of the comments, but confirmed “early discussions about the concept of a cruise ship terminal in Brisbane” had been held.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”It’s all at a very preliminary stage,” she said.[/pullquote]

Dr Lynham’s office directed Fairfax Media to the Port of Brisbane for more information.

That line of inquiry did not shed any more light on the negotiations, other than to confirm they had started.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”The Port of Brisbane is in discussions with the state government about a proposed cruise terminal,” a spokesman said.[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Due to the terms of that process, we are not in a position to make further comment at this time.”[/pullquote]

The land identified for the new cruise terminal was at Luggage Point, on the north bank of the river, downstream from the Gateway Bridges, at the entrance to Moreton Bay.

Queensland Investment Corporation chief economist Matthew Peter said it was a “potentially important development” in Brisbane.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”The river mouth of Brisbane is ideally suited for large ships, as I understand it, so there’s potential there for growing a new industry,” he said.[/pullquote]

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind said there was a pressing need for a large-capacity cruise ship terminal in Brisbane.

Hamilton Portside could accommodate ships up to 270 metres long, while the Queen Mary 2 was 345 metres.

The world’s longest cruise ships, Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, were both 362 metres long.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”(Hamilton Portside) was simply the best that could be done at the time when it was a question of lining up the money, lining up the facilities and it was a tough gig to get going,” Mr Gschwind said.[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”But it will preclude us from taking full advantage of the opportunities that are coming down the path – bigger ships, more ships and the certainty of being able to berth.[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Portside is almost at capacity now and we know tourism is on the up.”[/pullquote]

Mr Gschwind said while Portside Hamilton served a purpose, it simply was not enough.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”I don’t think it was a mistake (to build the cruise ship terminal at Hamilton) – it was what was on offer, a private investor who was willing to stump up the money,” he said.[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”It’s a lovely facility that has a whole suburb developing around it, so I certainly wouldn’t say it was a mistake.[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”But it won’t be sufficient to take advantage of new opportunities that are now presenting themselves.”[/pullquote]

Source: Brisbane Times