Shell Cove boat harbour opens to the ocean

• Major milestone almost 30 years in the making reached today
• The harbour and the ocean to become one over the next six to eight weeks
• Host of other amenities to be ready to open in spring

Shellharbour City Council and Frasers Property Australia have today begun the process of opening the South Coast's new regional boat harbour to the sea. 

Starting today and continuing over the next six to eight weeks, an excavator will remove the temporary sand bund that has held the harbour and the ocean apart while a water quality testing program was completed. With that program now complete, the harbour is ready for a full ocean connection. 

Shellharbour Mayor, Councillor Marianne Saliba says this moment has been almost 30 years in the making.

"This major new piece of coastal infrastructure will provide economic and lifestyle benefits to the region, boosting our tourism industry, providing jobs and amenity to our community," Cr Saliba says.

"It goes without saying that this is one of the most highly anticipated moments of the entire project and for me personally, I think one of the most exciting."

“The significant milestone of a Shellharbour Council vision born almost 30 years ago starts today. Continuing over the next six to eight weeks, the entire sand bund and harbour channel entrance will now be excavated to create a full ocean connection between the Tasman Sea and our brand-new boat harbour.”

Simone Dyer, Development Director, Frasers Property Australia says today’s milestone will see the harbour transition into an Australian east coast tidal estuary.

“The delivery of such a major piece of infrastructure is a credit to the vision of Shellharbour City Council and to the technical expertise of the world-class team of engineers and contractors who have dedicated significant parts of their professional lives to the realisation of this project,” says Ms Dyer.

“The whole Shell Cove community is masterplanned around the harbour water body so from a project perspective, today marks the beginning of the activation of the entire precinct. The harbour is the centrepiece that will activate all the dining, entertainment, boating and leisure activities of the precinct that together will create a leading lifestyle and tourism destination.”

Frasers Property has confirmed the key regional amenities at The Waterfront, Shell Cove are forecast to be ready to open in spring 2021, including the Shellharbour Marina, The Waterfront Tavern, Harbourside Dining Precinct, public boat ramp and car park, Foreshore Promenade and boardwalks. The specific timing for the opening of these first-class amenities will be subject to final confirmation and are conditional on suitable weather conditions.

Upon completion The Waterfront, Shell Cove will include a 270-berth boat harbour and Shellharbour Marina 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.

Stage one of the boat harbour 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.