Feds pause city’s cruise ship bid

said it had not been able to make a decision on the proposal, which received 57 public responses.

The council submission revealed a staged build from a day port serviced by a monorail to an eventual base port with refuelling and migration services and a two-storey terminal on 6ha of parkland at The Spit.

“The department has requested further information regarding the terrestrial environment and the management of any potential impacts associated with the construction and operation of the jetty, wharf and mooring/berthing,” a statement said.

The extra information will not be publicly released by the department unless it decides formal assessment is needed.

Mayor Tom Tate has repeatedly said he would scrap the idea if it didn’t stack up environmentally. He yesterday said the council was anticipating a “positive” outcome, but declined to comment further.

The department can decide the project does not require its formal approval, but also has the power to refuse it outright based on the existing submission.

Although Cr Tate and Deputy Mayor Donna Gates have denied the plans are for a base port, council consultants told department officers “a base port is the ultimate development outcome for the project”.

Asked if there were alternatives to the submitted plans, the consultants wrote “no”.

A spokesman for the department said the referral process did not require proponents to overstate their plans in case they want to expand them. “The scope of the referral is the responsibility of the proponent.”

Results of the State Government’s public consultation for public land on The Spit, including Phillip Park where the terminal is planned, are still being assessed.