Shellharbour Marina: pontoons installed as water levels rise

Shellharbour Marina, the region’s new “world-class boating destination” is one step closer to completion, with floating pontoons set to be installed.

Frasers Property Australia Development Director Simone Dyer and Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba. Pictures: Supplied

Shellharbour Marina, described as a new “world-class boating destination” is one step closer to completion, as the installation of the floating pontoons gets underway.

Following the completion of structural work in December, the boat harbour in the heart of new Shell Cove community The Waterfront, has been filling naturally with water. And thanks to recent weather, it’s happening a little quicker than expected.

On Friday, Shellharbour Mayor, Councillor Marianne Saliba, said the installation of the floating pontoons marked a visually significant milestone in the creation of the new marina.

The pontoons are set to be 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.

Shellharbour Marina is taking shape. Pictures: Supplied

A total of 145 berths will be installed in this first stage, to accommodate vessels from 12 metres to 30 metres in both the inner and outer harbour, and 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.

“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,” Clr Saliba said.

“ We’ve already received many inquiries about marina related berthing and services, so we know everyone is as excited as we are.”

Frasers Property Australia Development Director Simone Dyer said the harbour flooding had 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,” she said.

Upon completion, The Waterfront will include a 270-berth boat harbour and Shellharbour Marina next to the a new town centre. There will also be a hotel, children’s beach, water play areas, library and community centre.