White Bay Development could be a boon for marine industry

3:10 AM Wed 25 Feb 2009 GMT

'The view is far from picture-postcard perfect at White Bay terminal.' .

While media reports painted a picture of 'chaotic scenes' at Sydney's White Bay last week when 2000 passengers attempted to disembark from the Dawn Princess, many proponents assure us that plans are in the pipeline for sophisticated marine infrastructure which will prove of benefit to the broader maritime industry.

Tempers were frayed last week as passengers scrambled ashore and attempted to work out exactly where they had landed in relation to the CBD and airport. As they proceeded through Arrivals, passengers had to then carry their luggage along the road shared with coaches and taxis. Currently, the site boasts a shed with plastic seats, makeshift desks and Portaloos.

Pundits fear it is "a worrying taste of what may be to come when the NSW Government shifts the passenger terminal west during construction at Barangaroo, perhaps indefinitely".

Carnival Australia, owner of the Dawn Princess, spent $35,000 hiring 30 coaches to take almost 1000 passengers to the domestic and international airports and Central Station.

Carnival Australia's chief executive, Ann Sherry, said the company hoped the state government would invest in some more infrastructure in the area.
'From our point of view [yesterday] highlights that if White Bay is going to be a cruise terminal there needs to be some decent planning and some facilities,' she said.

'You cannot bring passengers, who are a major contributor to Australia's tourism, into what is essentially a car park.'

A Sydney Ports spokesman said that overall the morning went 'reasonably smoothly'.

But there are plans underway for infrastructure to support the burgeoning cruising sector and its relocation to White Bay.

Guy Bailey of Baileys Marine, a specialist fuel distributor, infrastructure developer, fuel and marine service provider, operating nationally from its HQ in Fremantle, Western Australia, is eager to point out that the development planned for White Bay will be extremely positive for the marine industry.

"Noone doubts that the area is light-on for services at present, but rest assured they will come if there is a passenger terminal. Additionally, once a new masterplan is completed the area will have substantial amenities.

"Our company has been trying to get a development approved at White Bay 6 for over four years and we see this as a positive development for the area. The area is an asset for the people of Australia, not just Balmain residents. The positive economic spin offs for local businesses, be they landside or marine, will far outweigh any negatives.

"As an industry we should all get behind this proposed development.

Baileys propose to establish a marine supply base at White Bay No. 6. The site, which was formerly a container and general cargo handling facility is currently used to store new cars. However, in 2005 the NSW Government announced that storage activities would be relocated to Port Kembla, and that the site would remain as a dedicated maritime precinct.

The supply base will provide a range of services for harbour users including:
. bulk indoor and outdoor storage space for marine equipment like rope, buoys, lifeboats or other marine hardware
. a roll-on/roll-off ramp for land to barge (or similar) to service harbour islands
. associated lay down area for temporary storage of goods for water transport
. marine refuelling, grey water and sullage facilities
. a small number of office leases for commercial marine service businesses
. a supply point for commercial vessels to collect pre-ordered supplies
. a dedicated space for port security and emergency services to mobilise and use as a control point in the event of harbour emergencies
. temporary vessel moorings.