Designers Handed Mighty Task as Brisbane Mega Cruise Terminal Reaches New Phase

With an expected construction commencement sometime in 2018, Brisbane’s future mega-hub for international cruise ships now has a primary designer to help craft its future as a major tourist provider.

Design firm Arup was recently awarded the detailed design contract, which will see them devise the concept for the $158 million terminal at Luggage Point at the Port of Brisbane.

The dedicated cruise terminal was approved in October 2017, with the $158 million project to be entirely funded by the Port of Brisbane corporation.

Delivering what the Queensland government believes to be “much needed cruise shipping infrastructure,” the new international terminal will consist of a 9,300 square metre building set over two-storeys and a 200-metre-long wharf, with two air bridges facilitating the movement of passengers on and off the ships.

The entire project will also incorporate public open spaces and suitable parking for cars and public transport.

Arup’s design contract will give them responsibility over the terminal’s detailed design and analysis, terminal building, and landside civil works.

“We are proud to be part of such an iconic project that will boost South East Queensland’s reputation as a global tourism destination,” Arup’s Lloyd Twomey said.

Queensland’s government has been keen to see this terminal become a reality in order to keep up with cruise sector of Australia’s tourism industry, which has reportedly become a standout slice of the cake, performing higher than most other sectors and growing continuously by 20 per cent every year on average for the past 10 years.

Queensland’s government has been keen to see this terminal become a reality in order to keep up with cruise sector of Australia’s tourism industry, which has grown by 20 per cent each year on average for the past decade – outperforming other tourism industries.

In 2014, a reported total of over one million passengers embarked on a cruise ship, and the state government has predicted the terminal has the potential to inject up to $1.3 billion in net expenditure into the Brisbane economy over the next 20 years.

The international cruise terminal is expected to support 3,750 jobs and bring 766,260 international and domestic cruise visitors, and help to meet the growing number of “mega ships” which need the necessary infrastructure to make port.

There is currently no existing dedicated facility in Brisbane to host mega ships, but by 2020, 62 per cent of cruise vessels in the Australian market are expected to be over 270 metres in length.