21 March 2016
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has today released details of its proposed approach to recommending the fees and charges to be paid by cruise ships using berths and moorings in Sydney Harbour.
With strong growth in cruise ship visits and limited passenger terminal capacity, IPART has been asked to provide independent advice on the fees and charges imposed on cruise ship operators by the Port Authority of NSW (Port Authority) for Sydney Harbour.
IPART Chairman Dr Peter Boxall said that IPART will aim to recommend charges that reflect the efficient cost of providing services to cruise ships, that encourage efficient use of port infrastructure and that maintain the commercial viability of the Port Authority.
IPART will also recommend how the charges should be updated annually to increase certainty for both the cruise industry and the Port Authority.
“The review will consider the charges and experiences in other national and international jurisdictions, what benefits the cruise industry delivers to the NSW economy and the effect any recommendations may have on the viability and growth of the industry,” Dr Boxall said.
“We are also considering what potential changes may be required to the regulatory framework or reforms that would encourage more efficient operation of the passenger cruise terminals or provide savings or net benefits to the community.”
The Maximum fees and charges for cruise ships in Sydney Harbour - Issues Paper sets out the proposed approach for the review, identifies the issues on which stakeholder comment is being sought, and how stakeholders can provide input.
Submissions to the Issues Paper will be received until 22 April 2016. Further submissions will be sought after a Draft Report is released in June, with final recommendations to be made to the NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight by the end of September.
A copy of the Issues Paper and information about how to make submissions can be found on the IPART website www.ipart.nsw.gov.au.
For further information, contact: Julie Sheather 02 9290 8403 or 0409 514 643