Residents around the White Bay Cruise Terminal in Sydney have been partly vindicated after a parliamentary inquiry labelled positioning a second cruise port at White Bay as “a serious error”.
In its final report, the committee recommended fitting the terminal with a shore-to-ship power source to allow berthed vessels to switch off engines overnight.
A further conclusion called on cruise lines to develop ways to mitigate noise levels, with limits to be imposed and enforced.
Acknowledging the impact of fumes, pollution and noise on local residents, the panel said quality of life on the surrounding community had been impacted.
“The committee considers that the decision of the previous government not to have a cruise terminal at Barangaroo to be a serious error… and notes that the original plans for Barangaroo included just such a facility.”
It took aim at the Environmental Protection Authority, saying effort to lobby on these matters could have been taken more proactively during the approvals process.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the NSW Government was now considering the report’s conclusions.
Carnival Australia said last year it was “stuck with White Bay”, with ceo Ann Sherry saying that White Bay was “a piece in a broken puzzle” and that it had not been properly connected to other vital elements such as transport.
