Manly: $34m for wharf and aquarium upgrades, says MP James Griffin
Manly will get a new wharf and money for the vacant aquarium site, in a $34m windfall set to rejuvenate the area.
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A $9m plan to strip back Manly’s old aquarium so the site is ready for redevelopment was announced today.
Manly MP James Griffin made the announcement alongside the Minister for Transport Andrew Constance, where it was also revealed that Manly Wharf 3 will be replaced in a $25 million project.
The wharf, which services the Captain Cook and Fast Ferry boats, has a set of steps limiting those with prams, the elderly and those with disabilities or in wheelchairs.
Mr Griffin said both projects are a win for Manly.
He said the money for the aquarium site would allow for the removal of some of the interior furniture including the huge tanks which used to be home to sharks and other marine animals.
He said how that site would be stripped and where the money will come from, had been holding up the decision making on its future.
The State Government, which owns the property, is working alongside Northern Beaches Council on the future of the site, which has become a magnet for underage drinkers and vandals.
Suggestions about its future include turning it into a bar or restaurant, or knocking it down and making it into a public park.
“This announcement fulfils our end of the bargain to prepare the site to then begin the discussion about what we should do about it,” Mr Griffin said.
“This removes all the barriers, so that we are now ready to go.
“It’s a significant investment and I’m really excited about the opportunities it presents for our community.”
Mr Griffin said there was no timeline for the work as there needed to plan how to do the work safely, without impacting on the fairy penguin population.
He also said the replacement of Wharf 3 would also require similar planning to ensure the protection of marine life and seagrass, but the outcome would be of great benefit.
The new wharf will be accessible for all and will most likely have a roof.
“There’s been many a day that I’ve stood in the rain waiting for a ferry and we’ve struggled to get up and down the steps like everyone else,” Mr Griffin, a father-of-two said.
Mr Constance said the funds for the Manly work was coming out of a $205 million package investing in maritime infrastructure and safety upgrades around the harbour and in the regions.
He said the projects will create 1300 jobs.