The NSW State Government has pulled off a deal on Eden Port Fees that opens the way for cruise ship operators to include Eden on their itineraries.
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Member for Bega Andrew Constance and Roads and Ports Minister Duncan Gay today announced that at the start of the 2013-14 cruise season, the NSW Government will provide a 100 per cent discount to navigation service charges for the first four cruise ship visits to the Port of Eden.
The initial freebies will be followed by a 35 per cent discount from the fifth to 29th visits and a 50 per cent discount that will kick-in at (and above) 30 visits by a single cruise ship company in a year.
As reported exclusively by The Magnet on May 9, 2013, cruise ship company Carnival Australia say they were stymied in their bid to make Eden a regular passenger destination by what they viewed as excessive port fees and charges for anchorage in Twofold Bay, said to be around the $55,000 mark per visit.
These fees especially prevented the cruise company from adding Eden to their increasingly popular short hop cruises, as the cruises would struggle to be profitable.
Following what Andrew Constance describes as “a lot of lobbying going on behind the scenes”, a deal has now been struck.
“This is absolutely tremendous news in advance of the decision that we are waiting on for Regional Development Australia Fund Round 4 funding. “It’s incentivising Carnival Australia and other companies. Now it’s up to them (cruise ship companies) to honour the commitments they have given,” Mr Constance said.
“We’ve done exactly what they’ve asked for thanks to the enormous work by Duncan Gay and his office, and Cruise Eden.
“I particularly want to recognise Cruise Eden, Gail Ward and Marge Snijder especially; they’ve plaid such a pivotal role all along and continue to do amazing work. You cannot ever underestimate the strength of local people to elevate these concerns at the right moment and what they have done in terms of creating a climate to make Eden more attractive can never be understated,” he said.
Cruise Eden’s Gail Ward was surprised but ecstatic at the news.
“This is really exciting news for Eden. Hopefully we will have a lot more bookings in the future,” she said.
“We put so much work into each cruise ship visit and it is great to see the region alive with visitors when they happen. Eden always rates highly on passenger surveys but the fees for a ship to be at anchor have often meant Eden has been bypassed. Now we have to keep our fingers crossed our RDAF submission is successful and the breakwater wharf extension can go ahead. Then many ships will be able to come alongside.
This is great news and we have to thank all the people who worked so hard to achieve this result.
“It will be a win win for Eden and the Sapphire Coast,” she said.
A Carnival Australia spokesman said: "This announcement is undiluted good news for Eden and the cruise tourism potential of the beautiful Sapphire Coast of New South Wales. The next piece of the puzzle is the outcome of the Bega Valley Shire Council's application for Commonwealth funding for infrastructure improvement to allow cruise ships to berth alongside at Eden. Once this outcome is known we will be in a position to address the question of scheduling ship visits to Eden in future cruise programs."
A decision on RDAF 4, which seeks $15million from the Federal Government to extend the breakwater wharf and undertake other improvements at Snug Cove, is expected next week.
The breakwater wharf extension would enable cruise ships to berth rather than anchor in Twofold Bay, making the Port of Eden a very attractive destination.
Minister Gay said that, based on the 70,000 gross tonne Pacific Jewel owned by Carnival Australia, the full government discount equates to approximately $40,000 for each vessel visit to Eden.
The NSW Government is clearly expecting the volume of cruise ships visits, and their capacity to boost tourism and local economies, to more than make up for any port fee shortfall.
“The Australian cruise ship industry is growing at an astonishing rate of knots – about 20 per cent growth each year – and where possible, NSW wants to continue to capture this business,” Minister Gay said.
Mr Constance said up to 2,000 cruise ship passengers could potentially visit Eden and surrounding areas each visit, providing a great economic boost to local restaurants, cafes and regional attractions on the Sapphire Coast.
“The NSW Government now looks forward to the Commonwealth Government’s decision on the Bega Valley Shire Council’s $15 million Regional Development Australia Fund application for the Eden Port infrastructure Project,” Mr Constance said.
“Should the application be successful, the NSW Government will continue to work with the Bega Valley Shire Council, cruise ship industry and Commonwealth to help firm up commercial arrangements to progress the proposal to the next stage of potential development.”
