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Notices of Motion tabled at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 23 September 2014 which was held at City Hall in Little Malop Street, Geelong.
The Yarra Street Pier was badly damaged by fire in October 1988 and subsequently demolished. In more recent years the City has been actively working to replace the Pier for the following purposes:
To enable the berthing and provisioning of Cruise Ships
To allow the Royal Geelong Yacht Club to maintain and grow the Festival of Sails and other events through the provision of a greater area of safe harbour
To provide casual berths for private vessels to visit Geelong
To provide a platform protruding into Corio Bay for events to be either staged from or used as a viewing platform for water based events
To provide all the other opportunities that can be provided by a public pier
In June 2012 a business case was completed with the following results:
Analysed all the options for the provision of infrastructure for the berthing needs of the City including the purchase of the Cunningham Pier and other scales and styles of pier. It clearly showed that the Yarra Street Pier as planned is the best option.
Analysed the costs associated with construction of the Pier
Analysed the financial benefits to the State and the Region by providing the Pier
Provided figures on cost verses benefit of the project.
The report showed strong results in terms of boost to the State and regional economy and predicted a strong growth to cruising business. Since that date Council staff and Councillors have been active in promoting the project.
Earlier this year Council officers started discussing the possibilities of a Portuguese cruise company Portuscale for their ship MV Funchal to visit Geelong and “home port” here. It was planned for a total of nine visits to Geelong where the ship would re-provision from local produce where possible. This opportunity, together with a stronger than expected increase in regional cruising, lead to the need for an update to the business case which could not anticipate such an early interest in home porting here.
In May 2014 an addendum to the business case was produced showing the enhanced economic benefits associated with home porting and an updated cost plan.
Unfortunately recently Council has received advice that Portuscale made a commercial decision not to proceed with its 2015 cruise season in Australia.
Cr Heagney moved, Cr Macdonald seconded -
That Council resolves to:
direct officers to undertake additional work to confirm market growth projections and sensitivity analysis with regards to the possibility of home porting and provisioning cruise ships from the Port of Geelong;
re-affirms that the Yarra Street Pier is a priority project for the City of Greater Geelong;
use the economic benefit data within the 2012 Business case when advocating and promoting the Yarra Street Pier project.
Amendment
Cr Farrell moved, Cr Fisher seconded -
That Council resolves to:
direct officers to undertake additional work to confirm market growth projections and sensitivity analysis with regards to the possibility of home porting and provisioning cruise ships from the Port of Geelong;
re-affirms that the Yarra Street Pier is one of many priority projects for the City of Greater Geelong;
use the economic benefit data within the 2012 Business case when advocating and promoting the Yarra Street Pier project.
Lost.
Amendment
Cr S Kontelj moved, Cr E Kontelj seconded –
That Council resolves to:
direct officers to undertake additional work to confirm market growth projections and sensitivity analysis with regards to the possibility of home porting and provisioning cruise ships from the Port of Geelong;
re-affirms that the Yarra Street Pier is the number one funding priority project for the City of Greater Geelong;
use the economic benefit data within the 2012 Business case when advocating and promoting the Yarra Street Pier project.
Lost.
Division Requested:
For: Crs Ansett, S Kontelj, Nelson, E Kontelj
Against: Crs Ellis, Fisher, Harwood, Macdonald, Richards, Heagney, Farrell, Irvine
The original motion was then put and carried.
Division Requested:
For: Crs Ansett, Ellis, Fisher, Harwood, Macdonald, Richards, Heagney, Farrell, Irvine
Against: Crs S Kontelj, Nelson, E Kontelj
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