P&O Cruises are scheduled to make five visits to the Port of Eden between February 2015 and 2016, and the current volunteer coordinator, Gail Ward, says the workload can no longer be managed by a volunteer.

Ms Ward told councillors and senior staff at a ‘roving’ workshop on Wednesday that “the development of Cruise Eden is at a vital point”.

“It is important that the three port calls for Carnival Australia’s Pacific Pearl next year are not just successful, but outstanding,” she said.

“If passengers don’t rate the port call highly, then ships will not continue to use it.

“I think it is time for Bega Valley Shire Council and/or Sapphire Coast Tourism to employ a part-time cruise coordinator, as was previously done with Michelle Robinson and Megan Luhrs.

“I am happy to continue to work alongside that person until the middle of next year and assist them to settle into the role.”

Bega Valley Shire Council general manager Leanne Barnes thanked Ms Ward for her work, and said the focus is now on a “handover season”.

“We recognise that [the workload] has stepped up,” Ms Barnes said.

“That will have only continued after the tourism summit last week.

“We are committed to this and [Council finance manager] Lucas [Scaprin] and I have already met with Gail, Marge [Snijder] and Sapphire Coast Tourism about bringing it back to a part-time position.

“We are looking at this upcoming cruise season as a handover season.”

Ms Ward took the opportunity to thank Council, the Eden Chamber of Commerce and Marge Snijder for their help and support.

She also provided a list of ongoing tasks that will need to be completed, saying: “It is time to move on with Cruise Eden”.

The tasks include: