The Port of Eden Marina community group has commissioned international consultants to review the NSW government’s plans for a wave attenuator at Snug Cove, saying the project “must be saved from disaster”.
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A serious rift has developed between POEM and the government after expressions of interest in the attenuator – a key component of the government’s $10 million Safe Harbour Project – were called last week.
POEM is angered after it studied the Department of Industry-Lands’ EOI documents, claiming that the alignment of the proposed attenuator is “wrong” and will not leave sufficient space for a viable marina.
The group’s secretary, Rob Bain, fired another missive on Sunday, announcing that it had commissioned Queensland-based International Marina Consultants to assess the department’s documents.
“We look forward to the IMC Review and, hopefully, productive discussions with the state government,” Dr Bain said.
“IMC are major mariner designers, winning many awards in Australia, South East Asia and the Middle East.
“They have already completed a number of reports related to the Eden marina funded by POEM and the Bega Valley Shire Council and are very familiar with the local issues,” he said.
In another move, Dr Bain has requested that estimates of the economic and financial benefits the marina would have for Eden be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Eden Chamber of Commerce.
A 170-berth marina at Snug Cove had the potential to inject at least $8.4 million in capital expenditure into the economy, as well as provide marine-related business opportunities, full time jobs and year-round tourism, he said.
Investment in the former BP and Mobil sites also hinged on the presence of a viable marina at Snug Cove, he said.
Dr Bain said the EOI documents had chosen to ignore these “inconvenient facts”.
“The importance of the marina to the Eden economy and to the boating people who live in or pass through the area is not in dispute,” he said.
“The great success of Bermagui and Batemans Bay marinas only rubs salt into the [Eden’s] wound.
“POEM members lucky enough to sail up the east coast all report that the regional ports with marinas are thriving and non marina ports are languishing,” he said.
Snug Cove was probably the best prospect for a marina In Australia, Dr Bain said, adding that it was the only deep water port between Sydney and Melbourne/northern Tasmania.
It had the potential to provide shelter from “notorious” Bass Strait to the hundreds of boats heading north and south every year, and had the added advantage of being close to a town, medical facilities and an airport.
“The question we most get asked is why hasn’t a marina been built years ago”, he said.
Dr Bain said there were “plenty” of marina builders and marina operators waiting in the wings; the challenge was to find one who was prepared to put up the money – and that would not be forthcoming unless the marina was viable.
Minister for Transport and Bega MP, Andrew Constance, said the government was not in the business of building wave attenuators for private marina developers.
Mr Constance reiterated that the government was delivering on its commitment to provide protection for existing infrastructure in the Port of Eden and provide a safer harbour for boats.
He repeated that the government would continue to work closely with all stakeholders, including POEM, to finalise the design of the proposed wave attenuator.
