Release of Cruise Shipping Strategy

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.

Cruise Ship Season

The first ship for the 2025/26 season arrived on Tuesday 14th October. It is the Silver Nova. Ports Victoria expects 75 ships up until early 12 May 2026.

There will be 16 overnight visits - 2 ships visiting this season for two nights each (The World and Odyssey). For the Spring Racing Carnival, the Carnival Adventure and Carnival Splendor will visit for 2 nights. Carnival Adventure will be returning for the Australian Open in January.  Details of expected ship arrivals can be found on Ports Victoria’s website.

In preparation for the new season, Ports Victoria has carried out maintenance and improvement work to protect the pier’s heritage and maintain it as a safe shipping and cruise facility. Works have included: 

• refurbishment of the Gatehouse roof and exterior, including painting
• the ongoing, annual pile rehabilitation program (including West Finger Pier)
• painting, corrosion protection, electrical and other works on elements of the pier structure and buildings.

BCNA AGM – Summary of Meeting

The BCNA held its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 18th September. For those who could not attend, here are links for:

• a summary of the meeting
• the President’s report

Guests at this year’s AGM are shown in the front row in the photo below. From left they are Councillor Heather Cunsolo, Acting Inspector Ely Reynolds, and Ms. Nina Taylor MP.

The Guest Speaker was Senior Sergeant Ely Reynolds. He is currently Acting Inspector of the Port Phillip Police Service Area. Ely spoke about this year’s high road toll, the deployment of staff to other areas, crime in Port Phillip, and the importance of reporting crime.

Ms. Nina Taylor, MP, State Member for Albert Park, spoke about the ongoing maintenance of Station Pier, the release of a cruise shipping strategy later this year, hoon driving and acoustic cameras, and the Barak Beacon housing project.

Port Melbourne Ward Councillor Heather Cunsolo spoke about Council’s 10-year plan, Bay Street, the Barak Beacon project, 103 Beach Street, and 1-7 Waterfront Place.

Cruise Shipping Strategy being Developed

Ports Victoria recently initiated the development of a cruise shipping strategy for the Victorian Government. This was announced by the Victorian Government in July 2022 as explained here.

Representatives of the BCNA recently met consultants assisting Ports Victoria with the strategy. The task was to discuss the current state of cruise shipping, priority areas, pain points, and risks and opportunities for growth. Station Pier is considered the hub of cruise shipping which also includes Hastings, Portland and Phillip Island. Pleasingly, the task includes landside improvements around Station Pier.

The BCNA has long advocated for Government leadership of a project which would overcome the shortcomings of the area as explained here. The next step in the development of the strategy is the release of a discussion paper in March 2025.

Waterfront Welcomers — Volunteers Needed

Waterfront Welcomers is an organisation that organises volunteers to meet and greet cruise ship passengers at Station Pier. They are seeking volunteers for the next cruise season which starts in September 2024. Click here for more information.

If you would like to volunteer, contact Brian on 03 9645 1476, or by email to waterfrontwelcomers@southportcc.org.au.

Update on the Future of Station Pier and the Waterfront Place Precinct

Since our recent meeting with Ports Victoria, BCNA and community representatives met the Hon. Melissa Horne MP, Minister for Ports and Freight, to discuss concerns. Also attending was our local member, the Hon. Nina Taylor MP. Community organisations and individuals at the meeting included the City of Port Phillip, Albert Park College, Port Melbourne Business Association, the Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society, the Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network, Janet Bolitho (a former Mayor of the City of Port Phillip), and the BCNA.

BCNA representatives spoke about the economic significance of cruise ship tourism, the ‘run down’ appearance of the area, that there are no amenities and shops for visitors, and the need for road and transport changes to handle traffic and visitors (click here to see BCNA’s presentation). Other representatives spoke about the significant maritime heritage of Station Pier, the significance of Station Pier for migrants and the scope for improvements.

The BCNA has advocated for a Masterplan (or precinct plan) to guide development for a long time. The Mayor, City of Port Phillip, Heather Cunsolo, spoke in support of precinct planning. The Minister explained that the Victorian Cruise Shipping Industry Strategy is the responsibility of The Hon. Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Major Events. Precinct planning is the responsibility of the Hon. Colin Brooks, Minister for Development Victoria.

Meetings will be arranged with these Ministers.

Cruise Ships Expected to Return from October

Currently there is a bio security order prohibiting cruise ships (with a greater capacity than ninety-nine passengers) from operating in Australian waters. The current order expires on 17 April 2022. The Federal Minister for Health may cancel or extend the order. Given that Australian borders are now open for tourists, the current order may be allowed to expire.

The Coral Geographer, a small cruise ship with less than 99 passengers, will be at Station Pier on 1 March 2022. 

Ports Victoria are anticipating and planning for cruise ships returning to Melbourne in October or November 2022. If the biosecurity order is lifted in April 2022, Ports Victoria anticipate a near normal cruise season from October 2022 to April 2023.

Volunteers Needed for Air Quality Monitoring

The BCNA recently signed a Letter of Agreement with the EPA to participate in a Citizen Science Project. This project was explained earlier in our April 2020 Newsletter. The BCNA’s role in the 3-year project is to identify ‘hosts’ for the monitoring equipment, to report on data collected and to work with the EPA in reporting on the project.

We are now seeking volunteer hosts from the following areas: Orcades Mews, Morley Street, Morley Mews, Australis Circuit, Canberra Parade, Canberra Mews and Swallow Street (between Orcades Mews and Australis Circuit) and Hobsons Bay Parade. This is the area most affected by emissions from cruise ships and the Spirit of Tasmania ferries.

The EPA will provide, install, maintain, and insure six sensors for the project. The sensors are small - approximately the size of a hand. They are placed in an external area, such as on a handrail, pergola, or gutter. They need access to power and Wi-Fi. Residents who agree to host the equipment sign a Letter of Agreement with the EPA. If you are interested in hosting a sensor, please contact the Secretary at secretary@beaconcove.org.au.

Spirit of Tasmania Ferries Moving to Geelong

The owner of the Spirit of Tasmania ferries, the TT-Line Company Pty Ltd, has announced that they will be moving their Victorian port operations from Station Pier to Corio Quay, north of Geelong. The new location is expected to improve efficiencies and allow for expansion in passenger and freight movement over time.

The company cites “significant congestion in the greater port Melbourne area, particularly when cruise ships are in port, that causes delays in loading and discharge of passengers” as a reason for the move and that “these issues will only worsen in the future”.

Further details are shown in the TT-Line press release here.

Cruise Ships at Station Pier This Weekend

VicPorts has provided information about two new ships arriving at Station Pier this weekend. They are the Pacific Princess and Seabourne Sojourn. Both are enroute to North America. Their last port of call was Fremantle. Both vessels will load provisions, ship stores and take on fuel (bunkering). No passengers or crew will be disembarking.  No crew will be joining the vessels.

More information about the ships and their compliance with biosecurity provisions can be found here.

Cruise Ships at Station Pier

In response to questions from members we have asked VicPorts about the current cruise ships at Station Pier.

VicPorts have a full run down on their website, but the key points are:

• There are currently two cruise vessels in the Port of Melbourne - Golden Princess and Viking Orion. Both have disembarked their passengers and are in lay-up awaiting orders from their Owners.
• Viking Orion will proceed to anchor at 6pm today (Thursday 25 March).
• Whilst the vessels are alongside Station Pier a Landside Restricted Zone (LRZ) is in place and Station Pier is closed to public access.
• VicPorts does not have any indication from the Owners or their Agents when the vessels will depart the Port of Melbourne.

Waterfront Welcomers - Volunteers Needed

We've had a request to remind Beacon Cove residents about Waterfront Welcomers, the volunteer group who greet the cruise ship passengers at Station Pier.

We're now in the cruise season and they are urgently looking for volunteers to assist cruise ship passengers with their queries and tell them all about the sights/experiences of Port Melbourne and City of Port Phillip. No experience necessary - Waterfront Welcomers will do all the training.

If you are interested please call Brian on 03 9645 1476 or email waterfrontwelcomers@southportcc.org.au.

Traffic Management in Beacon Cove During Cruise Ship Visits

During the 2018/19 cruise ship season, the City of Port Phillip’s (CoPP) Transport Safety Engineering team worked with VicPorts to trial an extended Traffic Management Plan (TMP). This was implemented on 25 critical cruise shipping days. The TMP included traffic controllers stationed at the Beach Street, Princes Street and Waterfront Place roundabout. The program was considered a success.

The program is designed to:

• Improve the operation of the queuing lane and the Princes Street, Waterfront Place and Beach Street roundabout.
• Prevent truck access into Waterfront Place from Princes Street and Beach Street (from Beacon Road/The Boulevard approach).
• Improve safety and operation of the roundabout.
• Reduce truck volumes in Princes Street and other local roads.

This year, CoPP officers have liaised with VicPorts and TT-Line who have agreed to implement the extended TMP on 56 days during the 2019/20 cruise ship season. The season commenced on Sunday 13 October 2019.

CoPP officers will continue work with VicPorts during the cruise shipping to monitor and review the TMP. The dates the extended TMP are to be implemented are available on the Council’s website.

Waterfront Welcomers - Volunteers Needed

Waterfront Welcomers, the volunteer group who greet the cruise ship passengers at Station Pier, are urgently looking for volunteers.

This will be the fourth season of the programme, and they are looking for enthusiastic, passionate people to join their band of volunteers to assist passengers with their queries and tell them all about the sights/experiences of Port Melbourne and City of Port Phillip. No experience necessary - they will do all the training.

This year's cruise ship season begins in October 2019 and runs through to March 2020.

For further enquiries call Brian on 03 9645 1476 or email waterfrontwelcomers@southportcc.org.au.

Station Pier Redevelopment

No funding was announced in the recent State Budget for the redevelopment of Station Pier. This is because funding is linked to the timeline for arrival of the new TT-Line ferries. The new ferries are expected in 2021. Unfortunately, the shipyard chosen to build the new ferries, Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG), has experienced funding issues. Victorian Ports Corporation (VPC) is seeking clarification from TT Line of the implications for the arrival of the new ferries.

The BCNA and other local organisations continue to meet VPC representatives monthly to discuss plans for the redevelopment of Station Pier. This includes discussion of issues identified by respondents to a VPC survey as well as issues identified by the BCNA.

Federal Election Issue for BCNA

The BCNA has decided to meet the candidates for Macnamara (formerly Melbourne Ports) to seek support for the introduction of low sulphur marine fuel for ships using Station Pier. The known candidates are Kate Ashmor (Liberal), Josh Burns (ALP) and Steph Hodgins-May (Greens). Other candidates will be contacted once they are known.

The introduction of low sulphur fuel requires co-operative action between the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments.

The BCNA is seeking a 0.1% sulphur content for marine fuel for ships berthing at Station Pier. This standard has applied in Sydney Harbour from 2015 and is the same standard that now applies in most of Europe, the North Sea, within 200 nautical miles of most of the North American and Canadian coasts, the United States Caribbean Sea since 1 January 2015, and for ports and inland waterways in Turkey from 2012. We are using this statement to explain our request.

The BCNA will publish the candidates’ responses on our website later this month.

We encourage members to contact the candidates to support the BCNA position. We will report on each candidate’s response up until the election.

Update on Port Planning

The Victorian Ports Corporation (Melbourne) (VPCM) has released the results of the community consultation they conducted in Sep-Oct 2018. The objective of this consultation was to understand community views on the current operation of Station Pier and to collect ideas on future use of the pier and surrounding area. This information will be used in planning for the redevelopment of the pier. Major findings were:

• Respondents have a strong emotional connection to Station Pier as a working port and as a historical landmark
• Respondents visit Station Pier for a variety of reasons, but primarily to relax and socialise with friends and family
• There is support for increased visitor numbers

Traffic congestion was the top concern.

A newsletter summarising the results of the consultation will be delivered to residents in coming weeks.  A copy can be downloaded here. A more detailed report can be downloaded here. VPCM has submitted a proposal for funding the redevelopment. This will be considered for inclusion in the next Victorian Budget (May 2019).

Election Issues for the BCNA

The BCNA has met with and briefed the known candidates for Albert Park on issues important for this community. They are The Hon. Martin Foley, MP (ALP), Andrew Bond (Liberal) and Ogy Simic (Greens). Other candidates will be contacted once they are known.

Our requests are for a long-term air quality monitoring program at Station Pier; the introduction of low sulphur marine fuel for ships using Station Pier; and the need for the Victorian Government to reinvest in the Waterfront Place precinct. We provided the attached statements to explain our requests on air quality, low sulphur marine fuel and reinvestment in the Waterfront Place precinct.

We encourage members to contact the candidates to support the BCNA position. We will report on each candidate’s commitments on our issues up until the election. The BCNA will also use media opportunities to explain our position.

Reinvestment in the Waterfront Place Area

For some time, it has been recognised that the area near Station Pier is not working well for residents and visitors. For example, the area often becomes ‘grid locked’ when cruise ships and the Spirit of Tasmania are at berth. This hinders visitors to and from ships as well as freight movement. Taxis often refuse to enter the area when it is grid locked and emergency services vehicles have great difficulty entering the area. The public realm looks ‘run down’ and is not an inviting place for visitors. There is a lack of shops, services and amenities and the area is very weather exposed. The Port Melbourne Business Association and the BCNA have discussed this situation with the City of Port Phillip (CoPP). The BCNA has also discussed the functioning of the area with the Victorian Ports Corporation (VPC). All agree that the area requires review and reinvestment.

The VPC received $5.8 million in the recent State Budget to undertake planning works to facilitate the growth of domestic ferry and cruise ship operations. This funding provides an opportunity to examine these issues and to develop plans to make the area work more efficiently. The CoPP plans to review a plan for the area (known as an Urban Design Framework) that was developed in 2013.

Air Quality Monitoring at Station Pier

Over 2016/17, the Victorian Ports Corporation (VPC) sponsored an air quality monitoring program at the Pier but this has not been continued. Pollutants such as sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter (PM), especially small particles (PM2.5 and smaller) are associated with asthma incidence and severity and other health problems, including cancer and premature mortality.

The VPC sponsored monitoring program revealed higher concentrations of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter than at nearby EPA air quality monitoring stations. Sulphur dioxide readings breached the World Health Organisation’s daily sulphur dioxide limits on many occasions and the annual average PM2.5 value of 8.4 µg/m3 exceeded the 8.0 µg/m3 level specified in the Australian National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM). BCNA has written to the Victorian Government Minister for the Environment requesting a monitoring program.