)
PLANS for a $100 million new Brisbane cruise ship terminal are another step closer after progressing to the detailed assessment phase.
The new facility has been proposed to be built in deep water at the mouth of the Brisbane River to safely accommodate superliners.
The Market Led Proposal was submitted by the Port of Brisbane Authority, with the support of major cruise ship operators.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the existing cruise ship terminal at Portside Hamilton can only berth vessels up to 270m.
She says 60 per cent of cruise ships in Australia will be bigger than 270m by 2020, with Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 at 345m and Royal Carribean's Allure of the Seas at 362m.
"A new purpose-built, deep water cruise ship terminal would be a major step forward for the tourism sector here in Queensland," Palaszczuk says.
"And early projections from the Port of Brisbane indicate that it could lead to 300 construction jobs."
A Port of Brisbane commissioned study forecasts an additional expenditure increase of up to $1.3 billion over the next 20 years after the terminal is opened. Passenger numbers for the Brisbane market are also expected to tip 766,000 in 2036.
Palaszczuk says the proposed terminal would be delivered at no cost to Queensland taxpayers.
The government will work with Port of Brisbane during detailed assessment.
)
