Council Blasts Sydney Third Cruise Port Plans

The Mayor of the Randwick City Council has lambasted the New South Wales Government’s decision to develop a Detailed Business Case (DBC) for a third Sydney port at either Molineaux Point or Yarra Bay.

Randwick Mayor Kathy Neilson said she was disappointed with the lack of consultation and transparency from the State Government. “Yarra Bay has a strong Aboriginal connection, with families enjoying an uninterrupted connection to the land for thousands of years, the area is also home to recreational sailing, kayaking, diving and fishing,“

Neilson said. “Randwick Council questions why these members of the community, as well as groups such as the La Perouse Aboriginal Land Council, have not been consulted about the future use of this land,” she added. Neilson also suggested the construction of a terminal in the proposed areas would devastate local marine life. “A cruise ship terminal in Yarra Bay would change the nature of the area from a natural recreational area to a mega cruise ship terminal,” she said. “The bay is home to protected marine species as well as a colony of seals on Molineaux Point, all of which would be placed in danger,” Neilson added. In response, the Randwick Council has allocated $50,000 to researching the impacts a terminal will have on the bay.

Source: Cruise Weekly