Bayside Council's No Cruise Ships in Botany Bay campaign has received unexpected support from New South Wales Planning Minister, Rob Stokes who voiced his concerns about placing a cruise ship terminal at Yarra Bay.
Mr Stokes said he had concerns about putting cruise ships in Yarra Bay, south of Port Botany and strongly advocated Garden Island as the most logical place in a Sydney Morning Herald article on Wednesday 24 March 2021 titled Absolutely Not: Minister doesn't want ships at White Bay.
Bayside Mayor Joe Awada welcomed the Planning Ministers comments.
"It is good news that someone from the State Government is finally listening to what Council and residents have been saying all along," Mayor Joe Awada said.
Last year Bayside Council strongly condemned the State Government's plans to build a cruise ship terminal at Yarra Bay or nearby Molineux Point, next to Port Botany and embarked on major campaign calling for No Cruise Ships in Botany Bay.
"We worked closely with our neighbour Randwick Council, on a hi vis campaign using our garbage trucks, as well as posting strong messages on local billboards and banners in strategic locations. We even printed bumper stickers for residents," Mayor Awada said.
"We wanted to send a very clear message to the State Government that we do not want cruise ships in Botany Bay. The message is finally getting through," he said.
Bayside Council staunchly opposes the Botany Bay cruise terminal for the following reasons:
- A terminal for mega cruise ships would significantly impact on Lady Robinsons Beach to the western side of Botany Bay from Kyeemagh all the way along the 8kms to the Prime Minister's electorate in Dolls Point & those pristine & protected areas of Sutherland Shire.
- Local roads would be jammed with buses and trucks required to service a cruise ship terminal.
- Wave patterns created by cruise ships in the bay would also further deteriorate the beach and recreational areas that Council is currently remediating.
- Bayside residents have been paying these ongoing environmental repair costs.
Bayside Council's very strong and clear message to the State Government remains: No Cruise Ships in Botany Bay.
