Sydney businessmen push for rights to develop and operate the new Elizabeth Bay marina

TWO prominent Sydney property developers have offered to pay for a floating public pool on Sydney Harbour in exchange for the rights to develop and operate the new Elizabeth Bay marina.

Theo Onisforou is one of two prominent Sydney businessmen who wants to pay for a floating public pool on Sydney Harbour.

TWO prominent Sydney property developers have offered to pay for a floating public pool on Sydney Harbour in exchange for the rights to develop and operate the new Elizabeth Bay marina.

Denis O’Neil — whose company Addenbrooke owns and operates the Rose Bay and Point Piper marinas — and Theo Onisforou have joined forces to challenge the Roads and Maritime Services for the right to build and operate the contentious project.

The offer for a floating pool in Sydney Harbour could look like this on at Lake Como in Italy.

Elizabeth Bay resident Onisforou told Confidential he is mystified as to why the state government is rushing ahead with a proposal for a marina that is four berths bigger than the current nine-berth facility and less attractive than a smaller crescent-shaped marina proposed by Addenbrooke.

“We are proposing a smaller marina with a public pool and we are happy to foot the bill and pay for the pool if the state government grant us the right to build and operate the marina on market commercial terms,” Onisforou said.

“Why help a few big boat owners at the expense of residents?”

Onisforou said his repeated attempts to meet Maritime Minister Melinda Pavey to discuss the proposal have fallen on deaf ears.

Originally published as Sydney businessmen push for rights to develop and operate the new Elizabeth Bay marina