White Bay Cruise Terminal
The White Bay Cruise Terminal was approved by the Minister for Planning in 2011.
The facility started operating in April 2013.
The former Leichhardt Council received numerous submissions regarding the operation of the terminal from residents regarding, noise, odour and air pollution.
Council forwarded all submissions from residents and organisations concerned about the above issues to the appropriate regulators – the NSW Department of Planning for breaches of conditions and the NSW Environmental Protection Authority regarding odour and air pollution.
Noise Mitigation Strategy
Sydney Ports Authority recently exhibited a Noise Mitigation Strategy for the White Bay Cruise Ship Terminal.
You can read the Noise Mitigation Strategy on the Sydney Ports Website
Council engaged Rodney Stevens Acoustics to monitor noise and review the strategy.
Read the Rodney Stevens Acoustics Operational Noise Management Plan (PDF 1.8MB) here
For information on Council’s submission or the Rodney Steven report please contact 02 9392 5000 or council@innerwest.nsw.gov.au
Environmental Protection Authority Odour Diary
The EPA has provided Council with an Odour Diary, on which residents can record emissions from Cruise Ships berthed at White Bay.
You can fill out the diary and either scan or photograph it to email back to the Authority. Address information is important as it allows the Authority to cross check their odour records, wind direction and potential odour sources. Names and addresses will be kept confidential.
Download a copy of the Diary here (PDF 59KB).
New (Clean Air) Amendment (Cruise Ships) Regulation 2015
A regulatory amendment of the NSW Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2010 has been made to limit the sulfur content of fuel used by cruise ships in Sydney Harbour.
The amendment comes into effect on 1 October 2015.
The amendment can be found at the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) website
It addresses cruise ship emissions in Sydney Harbour in two stages:
- stage 1 requires the use of low sulfur fuel (0.1% or less) while berthed in Sydney Harbour from 1 October 2015; and
- stage 2 requires the use of low sulfur fuel (0.1% or less) while in Sydney Harbour (including while berthed) from 1 July 2016.
Exceptions from the requirement to use low sulfur fuel are provided in some circumstances, for example, ship safety and emergency situations or technical problems. Ships may seek approval from the NSW EPA to use alternative methods to achieve an equivalent reduction in sulfur oxide and particulate matter emissions, for example, the use of exhaust scrubbers.
For more visit the EPA website at the links below:
Council's submission to the NSW Environment Protection Authority Inquiry
The former Leichhardt Council (which was merged into Inner West Council in May 2016) made representation at the Inquiry into the Performance of the NSW Environment Protection Authority on 13 October 2015.
Find the former council's submissions to the inquiry here:
Outcomes of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Performance of the NSW Environment Protection Authority
This inquiry was established on 19 June 2014, to report on the performance of the NSW Environment Protection Authority by measuring its recent performance against its objectives according to section 6 of the Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991.
Council Meeting 10 December – Report and Outcomes
Council received a report on the issue at the 10 December 2013 Ordinary Meeting and will act on actions and points below. Council will also contact the NSW Ombudsman if a response to the concerns it has raised on behalf of residents, has not been provided to Council by 20 December. Council adopted actions and points:
- The White Bay Cruise Terminal is a state run facility and when the ships are in port they are situated outside the boundaries of the Leichhardt Council Local Government Area. The NSW Department of Planning is the authority responsible for assessing and determining the impacts of the development including investigation and enforcement of the conditions on approval.
- The NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is the Appropriate Regulatory Authority for investigation and enforcement of pollution and odour matters under the Protection of the Environment Operation Act 1997.
- Council has no regulatory function in relation Operations of the White Bay Cruise Terminals or ships when in port. But in view of the significant and on-going noise and air pollution problems for local White Bay residents as a result of on board cruise ship power generation, Council will now request the State Government as a matter of urgency reconsider the option for provision of shore based power.
- Council for its part has already forwarded the community submissions listed in this report both the NSW Department of Planning and the NSW Environmental Protection Authority as the appropriate regulators. This includes a resolution of the Community Meeting held on 26 November 2013 at Clontarf Cottage. If an adequate response is not provided to Council by the regulators by 20 December 2013 the matter be referred to the NSW Ombudsman for review.
- In addition to writing to the Ministers for Planning, Ports and Health, Council has also resolved to write to Carnival Cruises, P&O and any ships using this port and outline Council’s concerns over the health impacts these ships are having on our residents. Council will publish and update on its website the results of noise and air quality monitoring undertaken by Sydney Ports.
Find air and noise monitoring results here
- Council will also pursue GIPA processes (freedom of information requests) to obtain results of air and noise quality assessments undertaken by the EPA and/or Sydney Ports and/or Department of Planning. The General Manager and the Mayor will also make personal contact with the CEO of Sydney Ports regarding the responsibility he has for ensuring that there are no unacceptable impacts from cruise ships on residents.
- Council will continue to liaise with the regulators and forward submissions received.
The complete 10 December 2013 Ordinary Meeting Council Report and Minutes can be found below:
Report to Council's 10 December 2013 Ordinary Meeting - Item E11 Operation of the White Bay Cruise Terminal (PDF 348.3KB)
Minutes for Item E11 Operation of the White Bay Cruise Termina December 2013 Ordinary Meeting (PDF 9.7KB)
Who to contact?
Residents can make direct contact with Carnival Australia, the regulators and Sydney Ports. Contact information for Carnival and the relevant State Departments is as follows:
Carnival Australia
Email: information@carnivalaustralia.com
Phone: 02 8424 8800
Address: 15 Mount Street, North Sydney NSW 2060 -or- PO Box 2006, North Sydney NSW 2059 NSW
Department of Planning
Website: www.planning.nsw.gov.au
Email: information@planning.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 02 9228 6111
Fax: 02 9228 6455
Address: Head Office, 23-33 Bridge Street, Sydney NSW 2000 -or- GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001
NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
Website: www.epa.nsw.gov.au
Email: info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 131 555 (local call from landlines within NSW) or (02) 9995 5555 (from outside NSW).
Address:
Head Office
PO Box A290
Sydney South NSW 1232
Australia
Port Authority of New South Wales
Website: https://www.portauthoritynsw.com.au/
Phone: 2 9296 4999
Fax: +61 2 9296 4742
Corporate office address:
Corporate Office
Level 4, 20 Windmill Street
Walsh Bay
New South Wales 2000
Postal Address
PO Box 25
Millers Point
New South Wales 2000
Media releases
2 September 2015 - Finally Low Sulphur Fuel thanks to a Great Local Campaign
31 August - NSW Minister for the Environment Mark Speakman - Regulation For Low Sulfur Fuel In Cruise Ships (PDF 114.3KB)
19 August 2015 - Government Response to White Bay Cruise Ship Inquiry Falls Short
27 May 2015 - Council Welcomes Overnight Cruise Ship Suspension But More Action Needed Urgently
17 February 2015 - Environmental Protection Authority Has Failed Balmain Residents
Further Information
NSW Government Health Response to Questions about Health Issues and Cruise Ships at White Bay 28 October 2014 (PDF 266.2KB)
Sydney Local Health District White Bay Cruise Terminal Fact Sheet (PDF 61.2KB)
Health information about cruise ships at White Bay NSW Health (PDF 266.2KB)
White Bay Fact Sheet (PDF 61.2KB)
EPA Cruise Shipping Legislation and Fact Sheets
Agency Meeting Minutes - Public Health Unit
October 2015 Minutes - Government Agencies and Balmain Residents re Cruise Ships at White Bay Cruise Passenger Terminal (PDF 231.9KB)
August 2015 Minutes - Government Agencies and Balmain Residents re Cruise Ships at White Bay Cruise Passenger Terminal (PDF 131KB)
June 2015 Minutes - Government Agencies and Balmain Residents re Cruise Ships at White Bay Cruise Passenger Terminal (PDF 64KB)
April 2015 Minutes - Government Agencies and Balmain Residents re Cruise Ships at White Bay Cruise Passenger Terminal (PDF 136.1KB)
February 2015 Minutes - Government Agencies and Balmain Residents re Cruise Ships at White Bay Cruise Passenger Terminal (PDF 603.9KB)
December 2014 Minutes - Government Agencies and Balmain Residents re Cruise Ships at White Bay Cruise Passenger Terminal (PDF 220.4KB)
October 2014 Minutes - Government Agencies and Balmain Residents re Cruise Ships at White Bay Cruise Passenger Terminal (PDF 220.4KB)
June 2014 Minutes - Government Agencies and Balmain Residents re Cruise Ships at White Bay Cruise Passenger Terminal (PDF 220.4KB)
April 2014 Minutes - Government Agencies and Balmain Residents re Cruise Ships at White Bay Cruise Passenger Terminal (PDF 220.4KB)