The case to make Wollongong home to the state's third cruise terminal and turnaround port was the focus of conversations at today's Cruise Wollongong Taskforce Meeting.
Held in Wollongong City Council's Level 10 Chambers, those around the table included six local mayors, the Member for Wollongong, and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully MP, NSW Tourism Association, Destination Wollongong, Destination Sydney Surrounds South, RDA Illawarra, Business Illawarra and Ports Authority of NSW.
"I'm very grateful to all those involved in the taskforce who took the time out of their busy work schedules to come together for this important conversation and to continue our advocacy for Wollongong to become the location for the next cruise terminal in NSW,'' Lord Mayor of Wollongong and Taskforce Chair Tania Brown said.
"As the cruise industry continues to grow in NSW and there is increasing pressure on existing cruise ship infrastructure, there's a golden opportunity for us to work together with government and industry to put the plans in place to help secure the future of cruise in NSW."
Cr Brown said Wollongong has a well-documented history of welcoming cruise vessels through Port Kembla.
Between 2016-2019, seven cruise vessels docked at Port Kembla and passionate volunteer cruise ambassadors provided a warm welcome to both passengers and crews.
"And few of us will ever forget the image of the Ruby Princess leaving the Port with the huge 'thank you Illawarra' sign hanging from its stern in recognition of the kindness shown to those onboard during the outbreak of COVID 19,'' Cr Brown said.
At the meeting, which provided updates around advocacy and meetings with relevant agencies, the Lord Mayor officially launched the prospectus 'Cruise Wollongong: The ideal location for a third cruise terminal and turnaround port in NSW.'
The 11-page document sets out why Port Kembla and Wollongong is the logical, cost-effective and sustainable choice for Sydney's third cruise terminal.
"We're closer to Sydney than Newcastle and Eden and have an existing deep-water port, with road and rail access, making our city the right choice for cruises, especially those that attract the domestic market,'' Cr Brown said.
"Wollongong is a thriving regional city with a highly attractive visitor experience. The wider region together with the South Coast and Macarthur regions offers escarpment lookouts, coastal drives, pristine beaches, tourist attractions including a wildlife park and action park as well as award-winning food and wine, and rich Aboriginal cultural heritage, all within 60 minutes of the Port.
"Yes, there are infrastructure improvements that would be needed to support a cruise terminal in our city, but this isn't a prospectus for change overnight. This is about securing the long-term future of cruise in NSW. With cruise visitation in NSW forecast to grow to 2.3 million passengers per annum by 2033, we are setting out our long-term intentions and saying 'we believe we are the right choice'.
The Member for Wollongong, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully MP who participated in the taskforce meeting said the city had demonstrated its willingness to host cruise ships.
"The Illawarra has shown the region is ready, willing and more than able to host cruise ships and the visitors on them with a mix of onshore visitor experiences for people to enjoy,'' he said.
"The cruise industry in NSW continues to experience strong growth with an increasing number of vessel visits and more people expressing an interest in taking a cruise, whether they are domestic or international tourists.
"The Minns Government established the Cruise Industry Advisory Panel to determine the best solutions to grow cruise in NSW and I believe Wollongong and the Illawarra has a strong case to be at the front of the queue for NSW's next cruise terminal.
"As the NSW Government works to grow the visitor economy to generate more economic activity and jobs, Wollongong will be a part of this growth and adding Port Kembla as a turnaround port, connected to airports at Mascot, Shellharbour and soon Western Sydney, is a commonsense option."
It's a position that is also supported by Australian Cruise Association CEO Jill Abel who has backed Council's advocacy and desire to see Port Kembla welcome cruise lines.
"The Australian Cruise Association (ACA) strongly supports Wollongong City Council and the Cruise Wollongong Taskforce's work in pursuing a dedicated cruise terminal at Port Kembla,'' Ms Abel said.
"When we held our annual conference in Wollongong in 2023, we highlighted the importance of planning now for the next decade of growth in the cruise sector. Sydney remains a key gateway to Australia, and developing additional capacity in surrounding ports such as Port Kembla could help meet the increasing demand from international and local cruise lines and deliver long-term benefits for local communities, regional tourism, and the wider visitor economy."
Cruise Wollongong Taskforce Members include:
- Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown (Chair)
- The Hon Paul Scully MP, Member for Wollongong, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
- The Hon Ryan Park MP, Member for Keira, Minister for Health and Minister for the Illawarra
- Alison Byrnes MP, Member for Cunningham
- Carol Berry MP, Member for Whitlam
- Camden Council Mayor Ashleigh Cagney
- Campbelltown City Council Mayor Darcy Lound
- Kiama Municipal Council Mayor Cameron McDonald
- Shellharbour City Council Mayor Chris Homer
- Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Patricia White
- Wingecarribee Shire Council Mayor Jesse Fitzpatrick
- Wollondilly Shire Council Mayor Matt Gould
- NSW Tourism Association CEO Natalie Godward
- Cruise Lines International Association Managing Director, Joel Katz
- Australian Cruise Association CEO, Jill Abel
- Ports Authority of NSW, Head of Regional Ports, Peter Ernst
- Destination Wollongong General Manager Jeremy Wilshire
- RDA Illawarra Shoalhaven CEO Selena Stevens
- Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation CEO Roger Stephan
- General Manager DSSS Shannan Perry-Hall
- Business Illawarra Director Coralie McCarthy
