| Gold Coast push for cruise terminal

Major cruise lines are
investigating the potential for
ships to visit the Gold Coast
instead of Brisbane.
THE Gold Coast may soon be opened up to
cruising – if the local tourism body and
government can work together on a solution –
but the move would be likely to take ships
away from Brisbane.
According to Gold Coast Tourism ce Martin
Winter, “political considerations” were
hindering the development of the Gold Coast
as a cruise destination.
“This has been a highly political issue for
many years, because Brisbane is only a short
trip away, but I think the demand from cruise
passengers is for the Gold Coast rather than
Brisbane,” he said.
Winter told Cruise Weekly that two major
cruise lines were interested in changing their
itineraries to incorporate the Gold Coast.
“In the discussions we’ve been having, these
cruise companies have said they would be
very keen to visit the Gold Coast, but it
depends on their ability to safely load and
unload passengers,” he said.
Gold Coast Tourism has completed a
preliminary study into an offshore mooring
facility for cruise ships, which will be
presented next week to the Broadwater
Masterplan Community Reference Group.
“Offshore mooring makes a lot of sense, and
it appears to be feasible, but our preference
would be for a permanent platform-style
facility inside the broadwater on Wavebreak
Island, with a bridge connection,” Winter said.
“This would require extensive dredging, but it
is doable.”
The project would also require substantial
government funding for the new
infrastructure, he said.
Meanwhile, the State Government and Gold
Coast City Council are set to undertake a $1.5
million study into the future usage of the
region’s broadwater.
“Clearly, one of the key features will be what
it takes to create an environmentally
sustainable cruise terminal, and I’m absolutely
certain that the study will involve cruise
industry input,” Winter said.
“Hopefully this will lead to a timeframe as to
when we can welcome the first cruise ship to
the Gold Coast.”
Winter’s vision is to have several cruise ships
visiting the city in time for the 2018
Commonwealth Games.