Locals battle against cruise terminal decision
It may have been a Christmas decision, but the frigid reception greeting the state government’s announcement it had decided to relocate the Cruise Passenger Terminal to White Bay failed to chime with the summer heat.
And just weeks into the new year, tensions between Leichhardt Council and the state government are set to ramp up further.
The decision to relocate the terminal has raised the ire of many, not least independent Balmain councillor, John Stamolis. The move comes despite the fact the masterplan for the Bays Precinct has yet to be completed.
“One of the most important concerns [is] with regard to the inability of government and the executive of Sydney Ferries to map out a clear vision and coherent policy for our ferry services,” he said. “There needs to be significant investment in upgrading the fleet and a focus on expanding ferry services and timetables. These are the real priority issues for commuters.”
Cr Stamolis said that given the high density populations around the harbour, it was vital ferry services were seen as a “fundamental public transport option” for Sydney commuters. “Instead, there remains no ferry service to Pyrmont and Glebe, two suburbs which have seen huge population growth – let alone the Balmain peninsula, which requires additional services to White Bay and Rozelle.”
He questioned the billions of dollars earmarked for the metro service, “when it would cost only five per cent of that to provide a fast and efficient public ferry service across many ferry routes.”
However, Balmain MP Verity Firth defended the decision to move the terminal, arguing it represented a “sustainable” use of the harbour.
A public meeting on the Cruise Passenger Terminal, organised by Leichhardt Council, will be held at 7pm on Thursday, January 28, at Balmain Town Hall.
