At this year’s AGM, Nina Taylor MP, Member for Albert Park, announced that the Victorian Government’s cruise shipping industry strategy would be released by the end of the year.
The BCNA met consultants assisting Ports Victoria with the development of the strategy last December. We were told that discussion paper would be released around March 2025 before the strategy was finalised. The discussion paper has not been released.
The BCNA continues to believe that a discussion paper is a vital step in engaging stakeholders. In this case the significant parties include nearby residents to Station Pier, local businesses and schools, the cruise tourism sector, the City of Port Phillip, the Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network, Yarra Trams, the Department of Home Affairs, and Ports Victoria itself. Transparent consultation enables stakeholders to understand and contribute meaningfully to proposed plans, often leading to more robust and widely supported outcomes.
The BCNA has written to Nina Taylor MP, asking her to support the release of a discussion paper before the strategy is finalised.