New South Wales ready to join the cruise party

Three months ago, Carnival Australia savaged New South Wales over the way the decision to make White Bay Sydney’s second cruise mooring was reached – at a time when the major terminal issue needed to be reviewed.
But last week, state planning minister Kristina Keneally poured oil on cruising’s troubled waters, revealing her intention to form a passenger cruise terminal steering committee.
“That committee would look at future needs of the cruiseship industry and the planning for infrastructure needed to support that,” Ms Keneally said.
Her intention was that the committee would advise on White Bay, as well as sites east of the Harbour Bridge, like Garden Island.
“I want the Royal Australian Navy to be part of these discussions, with a view to exploring possibilities for cruiseship access to Garden Island under a more permanent arrangement than is currently in place,” she said
The committee would include cruiseship operators, the Tourism Transport Forum, Sydney Ports Corporation, NSW Maritime, Tourism NSW, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and the navy.
Carnival Australia chief executive Ann Sherry thanked Ms Keneally for listening to the cruise industry’s concerns and for offering a way to move the issue forward.
“I would also like to acknowledge the willingness of the navy to participate in these discussions to ensure a coordinated and cooperative approach to meet future tourism demands in Sydney Harbour which is the cruise gateway to our country,” Ms Sherry said.
“We have been raising our concerns about the lack of facilities for almost 12 months now and are relieved that minister Keneally is committed to finding a solution given the huge and sustained growth in cruising.”