Bayside Council is optimistic that comments made by Planning Minister Rob Stokes are confirmation that the message is 'getting through' to the State Government that the Council doesn't want cruise ships in Botany Bay.
The Council's No Cruise Ships in Botany Bay campaign received unexpected support from New South Wales Planning Minister, Rob Stokes, last week, when he voiced his concerns about placing a cruise ship terminal at Yarra Bay when interviewed by The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH).
In an SMH article called 'Absolutely not': Minister doesn't want cruise ships at White Bay, Mr Stokes said he had "real concerns" about putting cruise ships in Yarra Bay, south of Port Botany, and advocated Garden Island as the most logical place.
Bayside Mayor Joe Awada welcomed the Planning Minister's 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 Awada said.
In 2019, Bayside Council condemned the State Government's plans to build a cruise ship terminal at Yarra Bay or nearby Molineux Point, and embarked on a campaign worth $20,000 designed to keep cruise ships from Botany Bay.
They encouraged other neighbouring councils including Sutherland Shire Council to join the campaign.
"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."
Bayside Council opposes the Botany Bay cruise terminal for a number of reasons including the impact it would have on Lady Robinsons Beach to the western side of Botany Bay, from Kyeemagh down to Dolls Point, and protected areas of Sutherland Shire.
Council also said a cruise ship terminal would cause local roads to be jammed with buses and trucks required to service the terminal, and wave patterns created by the ships would further deteriorate the beach and recreational areas that Council is currently remediating.
An estimated 1,000 residents attended a protest rally at Yarra Bay in November 2019.
