Bris terminal step closer

PLANS for a $100 million cruise terminal near the mouth of the Brisbane River capable of handling “mega-cruise ships” have progressed, with stakeholders reaching an inprincipal agreement.

The Qld Govt, Brisbane City Council and Qld Urban Utilities have agreed with the Port of Brisbane on “crucial commercial and technical issues”, Qld Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, Curtis Pitt said.

“In-principle agreement with these stakeholders means that realistic solutions have been developed and the way is now clear to undertake the detailed business case to finalise the Port’s proposal to deliver a facility that will be a welcome addition to Brisbane’s tourism infrastructure,” Pitt explained.

If approved, the new terminal would mean mega-cruise ships no longer have to dock at an industrial berth at the Port of Brisbane on the south side of the Brisbane River.

The agreement demonstrates the project’s viability and if it progresses into a binding contract, it’s expected construction would commence this year and the facility would be delivered in 2019.

The new terminal aims to help Qld capture “a greater share of the cruise market”, with a record number of cruise ships calling into the Sunshine State in 2015/16.

Royal Caribbean International told Cruise Weekly it would consider calling into the new terminal “if the facility is cost effective and fit for purpose”.

“We know there is a huge appetite for cruising in Qld and we’d love to homeport one of our ships in Brisbane again one day,” RCI said in a statement.