Wave wall work begins as Eden contemplates cruise ship boom

Some of the largest cruise ships in the world, carrying up to 6700 people, could soon be arriving in Eden, as work on a new sea wall begins.

Two massive cranes and barges have been brought in to start work on a new wave wall in Eden, as the state government singles out the popular seaside town for a cruise ship boom.

Under modifications proposed by the Port Authority of NSW, some of the largest cruise ships in the world could soon be docking in Eden, carrying up to 6700 passengers each.

Ships would also be allowed to dock at the far south coast overnight, up to seven days a week, with the yearly cap of 60 vessels to also be increased.

Minister for Transport and Veterans David Elliott said the planned expansion would allow the region to “unlock its full economic potential”.

“There has been growing demand from the cruise and shipping industries and the Royal Australian Navy to expand the use of existing facilities,” he said.

“With Eden strategically located between Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand cruise destinations, we know there is an appetite for increased cruise visits and modifications would allow larger vessels to add this beautiful part of NSW to their itineraries.”

The proposal comes two years after cruise ship travel in Australia was halted due to Covid.

That ban will be lifted on April 17, with vessels from cruise lines including Royal Caribbean International expected to begin visiting the popular coastal town from October 2022.

Pacific Explorer docks at the Eden Cruise Wharf at Port of Eden. Picture: Port Authority NSW

In light of the expected return of cruise ship travel, Transport for NSW began work on the first stage of a new wave wall in the Port of Eden on Friday.

The wall, which is to be built under the Eden Safe Harbour Project, is a 366m fixed panel wave attenuator, designed to help calm wave activity in the harbour, and protect boats and maritime infrastructure.

Eden, like much of the south coast, was battered by fierce weather and abnormally high tides and surf when storm systems swept over the region in previous weeks.

Work began on the wall in November and won’t be completed until late 2022, but NSW Maritime executive director Mark Hutchings said he was nonetheless excited to see the project gain steam.

“We’re really going to start seeing the wave wall take shape,” Mr Hutchings said.

“A 400 tonne jack-up barge has arrived from Port Headland, and a huge 270 tonne crane has been trucked to site in pieces and assembled on top. This barge has been joined by ‘Kochi’, a 600 tonne floating barge kitted out with a 210 tonne crane on deck.

“The heavy-duty, purpose-built marine construction platforms, are being used to build the wave attenuator, along with dumb barges, tugs, cranes and piling hammers.”

The wave wall will be built towards the inlet at Snug Cove, between two mooring jetties.

Mr Hutchings said the first of 127 piles were being driven into the seabed, with construction expected to continue until the middle of the year.

Impressions of the interior of the new Eden welcome centre.

“Precast concrete headstocks will start to be installed over the next two months, followed by the precast concrete panels,” Mr Hutchings said.

“The majority of these materials are being built off-site and delivered by road to Eden, to be installed at sea by the project team.

“We’re also improving existing infrastructure within the Port by replacing the fender piles on the mooring jetty to provide safer mooring locations for recreational and fishing vessels for many years to come.

Mr Hutchings said marine experts were on-site to stop work if any life entered into the construction area.

Under the new cruise ship proposal, vessels up to 370m long would also be allowed into the port, with non-cruise ships over 100m to be allowed to carry out operation activities, such as loading and unloading.

Mr Elliott encouraged the community and local stakeholders to provide feedback on the plan as community consultation is undertaken over coming weeks.

The cruise industry complements the Sapphire Coast‘s existing visitor market of approximately one million visitors per year with cruise passengers spending around $390 per day when on shore, according to the Port Authority for NSW.

But, the plan is likely to draw mixed reactions from locals.

In February, local community organisation Ben Boyd Light-To-Light Community Action Group voiced fears that planned luxury developments in the national park of the same name would be visited by cruise ship passengers via helicopter.