Start catering for cruise ship masses

HOBARTIANS have noticed that 8000 cruise ship passengers wandering aimlessly around the waterfront present a problem. They need to get accustomed to the idea as that will increase rapidly each year. Very soon, 15,000 a day will be the norm. Ninety-one cruise ships are on order from the world’s biggest shipyards, and older ships are not being scrapped but will remain in service. These new ships are very large and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane already struggle to make space available. Cruise companies have no choice but to look at other ports like Hobart. There is no doubt up to three cruise ships a day will enter Hobart. We must give visitors value for the money they spend. The more value we give, the more they will spend. We should not be satisfied to sell them the odd ice cream and souvenir as they wander the waterfront.

We must offer more. Ferries to the outer suburbs, steam train rides to the Derwent Valley, light rail to the Northern Suburbs, cable car rides to Knocklofty restaurants from Macquarie Point, and whatever wondrous attractions replace Macquarie Point sewerage works. Attractions must take passengers away from the crowded waterfront, else we clog the city with unhappy visitors and unhappy residents. If we encourage even half the visitors to venture out of the city for half their time, we will make Hobart a better place. Destination Southern Tasmania is correct — there are no plans to dock more than two cruise ships in Hobart. That is my point. Ships will have to anchor and tender their passengers ashore. And where are the Antarctic supply vessels to dock? Hobart port has been decimated with the loss of Princes Wharf 1 to land-based business and the loss of Elizabeth Pier and Macquarie 1 to hotels. What were they thinking?