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Port of Eden

Port Authority of NSW (Port Authority) is proposing to modify the existing State Significant Infrastructure Approval for the Eden Cruise Wharf to allow for the visitation of larger cruise ships and other vessels to:

  • Invest in the local economy and tourism
  • Support business opportunities for regional and local communities
  • Respond to ongoing demand from the cruise and shipping industries and the Royal Australian Navy, including larger cruise ships, to use the Eden Cruise Wharf
  • Optimise the use of existing infrastructure by providing flexibility in operations.

Existing approval vs proposed modification sought

Conditions

Existing approval

Proposed modification sought

Number of passengers, crew, type* and size of ships

Cruise ships 325m long, which can carry approximately 3,000 passengers can berth at Eden Cruise Wharf

Increase the size of cruise ships allowed to visit the Eden Cruise Wharf up to a maximum length of approximately 370m.

Hours at berth

Cruise ships not permitted to berth before 7 am or after 10 pm (unless there are extenuating circumstances)

Vessels other than cruise ships up to 100 m in length can remain at berth 24 hours per day.

Allow all ships to remain at berth 24 hours per day. Vessels at berth are still subject to the Eden Cruise Wharf activity operating hours.

Eden Cruise Wharf activity operating hours

Vessels up to 100 m in length can carry out operational activities between 7:00am and 10:00pm.

Cruise ships can embark and disembark passengers and undertake general cruise ship activities between 7:00am and 10:00pm (except for extenuating circumstances). 

 

Allow all vessels to carry out operational activities between 7:00am and 10:00pm.

Cruise ships would continue embarking/disembarking passengers and undertaking general cruise ship activities between 7:00am and 10:00pm (except for extenuating circumstances) as per the current Infrastructure Approval.

Cruise visits per year

Up to 60 cruise ship visits per year.

Unrestricted number of cruise ship visits to the Eden Cruise Wharf.

Community information and complaints procedure

Community notification is required if overnight berth is necessary due to extenuating circumstances.

Complaints must be investigated while the ship is at berth and corrective actions implemented, as required.

Port Authority will provide a publicly available arrival and departure schedule on our website identifying planned overnight berthings.

Implement complaints procedure under the approved Operational Environmental Management Plan (OEMP). Implement procedure for non-compliant cruise ships under the approved Air Quality OEMP Sub-plan. Note: all vessels coming into NSW ports must comply with all State and Commonwealth regulations.

*Typical non-cruise ships to use the Eden Cruise Wharf will include periodic visits by navy ships, project cargo vessels for the transport of equipment, parts, etc, offshore oil and gas support vessels and any other types of non-bulk commercial vessels.

The proposal also includes the construction of additional infrastructure to enable larger cruise ships to berth alongside the facility comprising:

  • A mooring dolphin approximately 60 m seaward of the existing mooring dolphins
  • A catwalk extension to the existing Eden Cruise Wharf to allow cruise ships to use an additional passenger embarkation/disembarkation door.

This additional infrastructure is required for the largest cruise vessels which are not currently scheduled to visit Australia and construction is not planned in the short to medium term.


Existing berthing and mooring dolphin at Eden Cruise Wharf


Proposed option for fixed passenger catwalk and new dolphin at Eden Cruise Wharf

SCOPING REPORT AND SEARs

In April 2022 Port Authority submitted a Scoping Report for the proposed modification of the Eden Cruise Wharf to the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE).

The Scoping Report details the proposed modification and engagement activities as well as environmental aspects to be assessed in the Modification Report. DPE provided Port Authority with the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs). These are the requirements that define the scope and level of detail of the Modification Report to be undertaken by Port Authority.  

The Scoping Report and SEARs are available on DPE’s Major Projects Portal.

COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION

Port Authority spoke with over 50 local people during two community consultation drop-in sessions held in Eden on 16 and 17 August 2022. Port Authority also held face-to-face meetings with local stakeholders about proposed changes to the use of the Eden Cruise Wharf.

A copy of the information boards presented at the community EA consultation session is available here.

MODIFICATION REPORT (ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REPORT)

The Modification Report considers various environmental and social aspects associated with the proposed modification of the Eden Cruise Wharf. These aspects include, but are not limited to:

  • Noise
  • Air quality
  • Traffic, transport and access
  • Socio-economic impacts
  • Visual amenity
  • Aquatic ecology
  • Sediment and water quality
  • Vessel navigation.

A draft Modification Report for MOD3 was submitted to DPE for a consistency review earlier this year.

DPE checked that it complied with the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEAR’s) that define the scope and extent of technical studies required to support the MOD. As a result of this consistency review, Port Authority updated the Modification Report before formal lodgement and public exhibition.

The figure below illustrates the indicative timeframes, including the submission of the Scoping Report and EA to DPE.

 

PA – Port Authority of NSW
DPE – Department of Planning and Environment

PUBLIC EXHIBITION

The Modification Report will be on public exhibition from 27 September to 24 October 2023. To view the Report and make a submission go to DPE’s Major Projects Portal.

A hard copy of the Modification Report will be available at the Eden Welcome Centre for the duration of the exhibition period.

Submissions need to be made to DPE not Port Authority. Further information on how to make a submission can be found on DPE’s Major Projects Portal.

FINAL DETERMINATION

Eden Cruise Wharf is a State Significant Infrastructure project. As such, modifications are independently approved by the Minister for Planning or his/her delegate at DPE under the provisions of Div 5.2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 following consideration of all information and feedback.

To learn more about the proposed modification to the Eden Cruise Wharf or to subscribe to updates, please contact Port Authority:

Email[email protected]
Phone: 02 9296 4962