Mega cruise ship terminal planning gets underway

The assessment of a proposed $100 million mega cruise ship terminal for Queensland has been stepped up with the signing by Treasurer Curtis Pitt and Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL) CEO Roy Cummins of a process deed to guide detailed planning.

The signing of the process deed follows the government’s decision in February to move PBPL’s proposal from initial assessment to the detailed assessment phase of its Market-Led Proposals framework.

The process deed sets out the government’s requirements for the detailed proposal, how the project will be assessed by government and includes key detail such as agreed milestones in the development of the proposal.

“The Port of Brisbane has already been busy preparing preliminary information as part of its detailed assessment of the cruise ship terminal but the signing of this process deed enables them to get the work underway in earnest,” Mr Pitt said.

“It allows the Port to proceed with clarity so they know exactly what the government will be seeking if the project is to be successful.

“Given the potential benefits to Queensland the cruise terminal would deliver it’s important to agree these key terms upfront.”

The proposed facility is supported by cruise ship operators which are seeking dedicated cruise facilities with deep water access for their growing number of mega cruise ships.

There is a world-wide trend to mega ships and by 2020 60 per cent of the cruise ships in Australia will be longer than 270 metres.

The existing cruise ship terminal at Portside Hamilton can only berth vessels up to 270 metres because of the narrow, shallow depth of the river and height restrictions of the Sir Leo Hielscher bridges.

PBPL, which intends to fully fund and finance the terminal, predicts that from the time it opens the terminal will attract additional expenditure increase of up to $1.3 billion over the next 20 years.

It estimates that up to 300 jobs will be created during construction.

The proposal is one of four which are currently in the detailed planning stage of the Market-Led Proposal framework.

Other projects which are in detailed development include the Logan Motorway Enhancement Project, the Queensland Aquarium and Maritime Museum and the Mount Cotton Driver Training Centre.

“This government is in the business of creating jobs and working with the private sector to facilitate good ideas,” Mr Pitt said.

For more information about Market-Led Proposals visit www.treasury.qld.gov.au/mlp

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