Member for Bega Andrew Constance is hoping to get the Eden attenuator project back on track and is meeting president of POEM (Port of Eden Marina) Rob Bain and marine consultant John Leman on Thursday, August 1 to discuss a way forward.
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The project hit problems after it was revealed that the preferred tenderer Waterway Constructions, the company that built the Eden wharf extension, would cease trading on October 31 this year.
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The waters were further muddied by projected costs from Waterway well in excess of the $19m allocated by the state government.
Mr Constance said he had invited Mr Bain to Sydney to discuss the Eden Safe Harbour project and look at options to provide it.
"The tender price was well over price for the budget and we will be asking the government to set up a competitive tender," Mr Bain said.
Marine consultant John Leman believes that a fixed attenuator can be built within budget.
"A number of such breakwaters have been constructed in areas with similar wave heights and in similar water depths," Mr Leman said.
He pointed to Derwent Sailing Squadron where the water depth of between 9-12m is similar to that at Eden.
Geotechnical surveys have been undertaken and it's believed that Waterway raised the issue of rock in the area of where piling might take place.
But Mr Leman said he had spoken with a number of contractors and had included the extra costs in his estimates.
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He maintains there is no shortage of companies able to do the work saying there are three operating out of Victoria, one in Tasmania and another in Sydney.
Mr Bain said that the project was "tender ready" having had several million dollars spent on geotechnical work and an environmental impact statement.
"Waterway submitted a tender in January but the price was so high. The cruise ship wharf cost $44m and there was major dredging work, it had to be super strong with five big mooring dolphins. To argue that a fixed panel attenuator would cost as much doesn't pass the pub test," Mr Bain said.
Asked about the demise of Waterway Mr Bain said they were told in November the company was restructuring but had no idea that it was going to cease operations.
Mr Constance said he remains totally committed to providing a safe harbour option for Eden.
