Terminal will wave in a sea change

BUILD it and they will come. That’s the message being touted by cruise ship operators who are queuing up to visit the Gold Coast to determine its suitability for a cruise terminal.

The overwhelming response from cruise ship owners to the prospect of a major terminal being established in the city raises the serious question of why it hasn’t been built before.

In 2004, the Beattie Government was ready and willing to part-fund a cruise ship terminal adjacent to The Spit. Greenies hijacked the proposal, threatening to withdraw Green preferences in the 2004 state poll.

The project was shelved, costing one private consortium a seven-figure amount, the price of determining its feasibility, which was given a resounding thumbs up.

Now, five international cruise ship route planners will arrive later this year to reconnoitre the Gold Coast.

Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises last week visited Versace, Dreamworld and the Broadwater to see if the Gold Coast should be considered as a stopover.

Representatives from Prestige Cruise Holdings and Holland America Line are said to be among the companies visiting later in the year.

These are big international conglomerates. They do their due dilig e n c e a n d t h e y a r e s a y i n g resoundingly they want to come here.

New figures from a cruise shipping industry report shows passenger expenditure in Australia rising from $302.9 million to $443.1 million.

Thr report shows passengers are spending more on the ground. Could you imagine a shipload of passengers each week visiting our beaches, theme parks and hinterland?

Mayor Tom Tate has made it clear that he will not rest until a cruise ship terminal is built. We support the Mayor wholeheartedly on his vision for such a project.

It needs to happen and the sooner the better.