Pontoon installations at Shellharbour Marina

• Natural harbour filling progressing well
• 145 berths to be complete by the end of June

Australia’s newest world-class boating destination, Shellharbour Marina, is well on its way to becoming an east coast landmark, with the marina reaching another milestone this week as the installation of the floating pontoons got underway.

Following the completion of the boat harbour structural work in December, the boat harbour in the heart of Shellharbour City Council and Frasers Property Australia's masterplanned community at The Waterfront, Shell Cove has been filling naturally with water.

In fact, thanks to recent weather, it’s happening a little quicker than expected.

Shellharbour Mayor, Councillor Marianne Saliba, says the installation of the floating pontoons marks a visually significant milestone in the creation of Australia’s new world-class boating destination, right here in our own Shellharbour.

“A safe harbour of this significance between Sydney and Eden has been on the strategic infrastructure agenda for decades, so there’s great anticipation among boaties as well as the local community. We’ve already received many inquiries about marina related berthing and services, so we know everyone is as excited as we are,” says Councillor Saliba.

“Everything will be here for boat enthusiasts including berthing, a maintenance facility and fuelling services, all complemented by a wide range of dining and entertainment options on the waterfront.

“The tourism and jobs this project generates will be a great economic boost not just for Shellharbour but for our entire region,” she says.

Simone Dyer, Development Director, Frasers Property Australia says the harbour flooding has progressed well in the past few weeks thanks to the rain over Christmas, with the water level sitting at the low tide mark, which means there is around 3m of water in the harbour so far.

“With Bellingham Marine commencing installation of the floating marina pontoons this week, this new world-class boating destination is one step closer to welcoming visitors,” Ms Dyer says.

“The pontoons are craned into the harbour directly from the road trucks and assembled in the water. Once assembled, installation of the services provisions including potable water, power, and provisions for Wi-Fi and CCTV will follow.

“A total of 145 berths will be complete in this first stage, ranging from 12 metres to 30 metres in both the inner and outer harbour, will be physically complete by the end of June. There will also be two 25-metre twin hull charter vessel berths at the public jetty pontoons,” says Ms Dyer.

Ms Dyer says the next boat harbour milestone will be the removal of the sand bund, completing the channel connection between the harbour and the ocean. This will take time, however, as the stabilisation of ground water, storm water and ocean waters currently in the harbour is largely dependent on the weather.

“We must meet strict NSW Environment Protection Authority criteria with regard to the quality of the water in the harbour, so the timeline for the removal of the sand bund at the channel entrance cannot be scheduled for a specific time. Nevertheless, we hope this will occur by the end of June,” Ms Dyer says.

Frasers Property has confirmed the key activation components of The Waterfront, Shell Cove are now forecast to be ready to open by mid to late August this year or at the latest September.  The synchronised completion of the Shellharbour Marina, The Waterfront Tavern, Harbourside Dining Precinct, public boat ramp and car park, Foreshore Promenade and boardwalks will bring long awaited and first-class amenity to Shellharbour and the broader region. These dates will be subject to final confirmation and conditional on suitable weather conditions.

Upon completion The Waterfront, Shell Cove will include a 270-berth boat harbour and Shellharbour Marina are next to the lively town centre featuring a retail precinct anchored by a Woolworths supermarket, with specialty shops and restaurants on the marina’s edge. There will also be a hotel, children’s beach, water play areas, library and community centre. 

The Waterfront, Shell Cove will have capacity for 270 berths on completion, stage one includes 145 berths with the additional 125 berths to be constructed as demand dictates.

The Waterfront, Shell Cove Sales Centre is in The Waterfront Town Centre at Shops 1 and 2, 100 Cove Boulevard, Shell Cove. It is open seven days from 10.30am to 5pm. Call 13 38 38 or visit www.thewaterfrontshellcove.com.au for more information.