Northbridge Marine Services, Xtreme Mobile fight eviction notice

Two long-running businesses which have served north shore boat owners for decades are facing eviction — but they are not going down without a fight.

A petition to save two long-running boat servicing companies has topped 750 signatures after the owners were handed an eviction notice by the operators of a marina on Sydney’s north shore.

Northbridge Marine Services and Xtreme Mobile Marine have been ordered to vacate Northbridge Marina after providing slipway services, repairs and other maintenance works to the region’s boaters for the past three decades.

Megan Chivers, who runs the two businesses with her husband Ash McCann, said the couple had been trying to finalise a written list to provide ongoing services at the marina before being handed the eviction notice by Wing International, which manages the RMS-owned marina on Middle Harbour, in February.

The businesses provide slipway services to local boaters.

Northbridge Marina Services and Xtreme Mobile Marina were given one month to vacate the site, but have granted an extension until April 19 as they try to resolve the matter with the marina in a mediation process before the Small Business Commissioner.

In a statement, Northbridge Marina said the eviction was based on “growing concerns about its clients’ dissatisfaction with the services provided by Northbridge Marine Services and Xtreme Mobile Marine”.

The North Shore Times asked the marina to elaborate on its concerns about the companies but in a statement it said it could “not provide further details while the mediation process was underway.”

Ms Chivers said the couple would pursue a Supreme Court challenge against the eviction should mediation be unsuccessful on grounds alleging wrongful termination, losses for investments in the marina, and the “total destruction of two businesses.”

The businesses were handed the eviction notice in February.

“We’ve poured our livelihoods into the companies – both businesses are thriving and we’ve been given no justification or reason why we’re having to vacate. It’s come as a complete shock,” she said.

“One business has been there for 30 years, the other for 12 years – if there were dissatisfied customers we should at least be given the opportunity to address those concerns.

“We hold about 90 per cent of the boats at the marina and we have four months’ of work booked up that we’ve already taken deposits for. We have clients who say they’ll follow us if we leave but the question is where do we go?”

Northbridge Marina said it was entitled to terminate its current occupancy arrangements by giving one month’s notice of termination.

Megan Chivers and Ash McCann

“The marina has never granted a licence or sublease with a longer term to any occupant. Although the current occupants requested a licence, the terms suggested were one-sided and the marina could not agree to them,” the statement read.

“After careful consideration, the marina has taken steps to have new providers commence to ensure that marina clients have superior quality slipping, shipwright and mechanic’s services.”

The mediation process comes as an online petition opposing the eviction had reached 771 signatures as of Monday.

Ms Chivers said the limited number of marinas on Sydney Harbour meant relocating the companies to a nearby location was not possible.

“It’s not a business we can just easily pick up and relocate – we’ve tried to find an alternative site if we have to relocate but everywhere with a slipway is unavailable,” she said.

“If we have to close it will be devastating – it’s our livelihood. We’d be losing the income that keeps the roof over our heads.”