Issue - decisions

Moved by Councillor Worling, seconded by Councillor Thompson –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         Millers Point is an historic harbourside suburb on the north-western edge of central Sydney home to a close-knit community and some of Sydney’s most significant sites such as Observatory Hill, Barangaroo Reserve, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct and The Rocks, which attract millions of tourists every year;

(ii)        making Sydney a city for walking, cycling and public transport is one of the ten strategic directions in Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050 Continuing the Vision and the soon-to-be refreshed Community Strategic Plan Delivering Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050;

(iii)      our communities told us they want to live close to a quality public transport network that is accessible, reliable, integrated, safe, affordable, environmentally friendly and prioritises space for people over cars and parking while maintaining access for business;

(iv)      Millers Point Community Resident Action Group (MPCRAG) has advocated for many years for public transport improvements that reduce traffic and parking congestion in their area and the opening of the new Metro station at Barangaroo has been a very welcome addition to help relieve that;

(v)       however, large events such as VIVID and New Years’ Eve are attracting more and more people to the peninsula meaning people need more public transport options including at night to get in and out of the area as quickly as possible; (vi) the ferry wharves at Barangaroo and Circular Quay are over a kilometre away, and the area is often prone to traffic congestion along Hickson Road, particularly before and after theatre events when many people use private vehicles, car share and taxis to attend because of the lack of public transport;

(vi)      a ferry service linking Walsh Bay with Circular Quay, Barangaroo and the new Sydney Fish Market, would boost tourism and economic activity along the western harbour; and

(vii)     the community is also calling for integrated public transport ticketing as a way to alleviate traffic congestion in The Rocks and Millers Point. This would reduce the need for taxis and car share to transport cruise ship passengers to and from the Overseas Passenger Terminal;

(B)      Council further note that:

(i)         last year, the NSW Government announced a Shore Power project at White Bay Cruise Terminal to be operational by late 2026 that provides wharf-side infrastructure that provides cruise ships with electricity by connecting to a landside charger, which results in less noise, air and water pollution and fewer emissions as the engine does not have to stay running while docked;

(ii)        the NSW Port Authority is investigating the feasibility of installing shore power at the Overseas Passenger Terminal but there are no firm plans in place;

(iii)      there is growing pressure to expand Sydney’s cruise ship capacity, and the NSW Government has established the Cruising Industry Advisory Panel to provide advice on strategies. This could see more ships using the Overseas Passenger Terminal increasing their emissions even more;

(iv)      last year, the Member for Sydney wrote to the NSW Minister for the Environment requesting an air quality monitoring station at Circular Quay to collect data associated with cruise ship emissions. The Minister’s reply said they are reviewing the Air Quality Monitoring Plan at the end of this year and will assess the needs for monitoring across NSW; and

(v)       in support of the ongoing community campaign to improve air quality and reduce the negative environmental impact for cruise ships coming to Sydney, the Member for Balmain has proposed legislative reform through NSW Parliament to make it mandatory for cruise ships coming into White Bay Cruise Terminal to use shore power from 1 January 2027; and

(C)      the Lord Mayor be requested to write to:

(i)         the NSW Minister for Transport urging him to improve public transport options in the Millers Point area by investigating providing a Sydney Ferries stop at Walsh Bay as well as integrated ticketing for cruise ship passengers arriving from the Overseas Passenger Terminal to encourage them to use public transport; and

(ii)        the NSW Minister for the Environment calling on her to accelerate feasibility studies for installing shore power at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, require all cruise ships to use shore to ship power no later than January 2027, and in the meantime, prioritise installation of an air quality monitor at Circular Quay to collect data associated with cruise ship emissions as part of the Air Quality Monitoring Plan currently under review.

Carried unanimously.

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