Port Authority of NSW’s CEO Grant Gilfillan has admitted that the Barangaroo cruise terminal option might’ve been a better option that the location at White Bay.

In a nod to the judgement of Carnival Australia’s CEO Ann Sherry, Gilfillan suggested the Port Authority could’ve taken a closer look at the steady preference of Sherry, being the area dominated by the Barangaroo developments.

Sherry has remained very vocal about her penchant for the Barangaroo area, but Gilfillan says that while Sherry makes a valid argument, there were a lot of factors that drove to the choice of White Bay 5 terminal.

“The decision to build a replacement terminal at White Bay 5 was a decision we think was a good decision, but I acknowledge that not everybody agrees with that,” Gilfillan said.

“Ann has been very open and very consistent from day one that she would’ve rather it be at Barangaroo, and I have to admit from a passenger perspective and a passenger experience I think that Barangaroo probably would have been a better option, but there were many other factors to take into consideration in coming up with these locations.”

“We at the Port Authority have a passion to try and find ways to enable this industry to grow, and the decision to upgrade here [Overseas Passenger Terminal] was driven predominately by the need to bring bigger ships in.”

“We need to generate a lot more excitement out there for the people in the decision making positions of the industry. It’s not just a Sydney-centric thing.”

Gilfillan has pinned the next six to 12 months as an integral time to work towards cruise infrastructure solutions.

Speaking at the launch of CLIA’s 2014 Australia Source Market Report, Gilfillan said the issue for the cruise industry continues to be “finding the capacity to grow”, because unfortunately not all ships will be able to call the beautiful Sydney Harbour home.

“There are a range of ideas floating around out there, including the traditional ones of Garden Island, and Gavin [Smith]’s preference of doing something significant down in Port Botany,” he said.

“Newcastle already has a lot of cruises coming in, and there’s a lot of excitement there, while Eden is another example on the east coast.”

“In reality it all comes down to the cruise lines – where they’re going to get their passengers and then the infrastructure to make that all viable. That requires a high level of coordination.”

Sherry as a major player in the cruise game has said she is proud of Carnival’s role in encouraging a growing cruise industry as the sweetheart of Aussie tourism.

“With its seven distinctive brands and its industry leadership, I am very proud of the part Carnival Australia has played in surpassing the million passengers a year landmark,” Sherry said, following CLIA’s announcement of the industry surpassing the record million mark.

“When we set the target of a million Australians cruising by 2020, such an audacious goal was considered wildly ambitious but here we are celebrating the milestone’s achievement six years earlier.”

“This achievement is an indication of how Australians have taken cruise holidays to their hearts and their huge choice of brands, ships and fabulous destinations in our own region and internationally.”

“Building on more than a decade of double digit annual growth, cruising is at the centre of a tourism phenomenon that goes from strength to strength.”