Cattle Bay marina at Eden receives green light

The applicant, Eden Resort Hotel, said it had extensive experience constructing and operating marinas on the NSW coast, including  in environmentally sensitive areas at Port Stephens.

Approval is subject to a number of conditions, including that public access be maintained and that the existing jetty be upgraded.

The site was the former home of the Heinz cannery - the original proposal to develop a marina there dates back to 2000 with the purchase of the site and has since undergone a series of amendments.

A total of 24 existing swing moorings will need to be relocated to accommodate the project.  

The applicants will now approach the NSW government for financial assistance under its $70million Boating Now initiative.

There would be no impact on the marine environment either during the construction or operation phase of the project, the applicants said.

After the meeting Bega Valley Shire Mayor Michael Britten said the Cattle Bay project was the only "live" application for a marina and wave attenuator in Eden.

Cr Britten said the Port of Eden Marina (POEM) group was yet to submit a development application, nor was the Twofold Bay plan ready to go.

“Eden has had bad luck for many years, with [the downturn in] forestry and fishing,” he said.

“This presents the opportunity for Eden to be brought back to life with the possibility of a great future.”   

Eden Mussels director Chris Boyton expressed concern to the panel that a sewage spill could force the closure of his aquaculture business and that not enough work had been done to assess the impact of the attenuator on tidal flows.

Resident Amanda Midlam told the panel that it was a “horrifying” prospect that the beach would be realigned, adding that it was a "shame” development was at the cost of the environment.

“[Cattle Bay Beach] is a gem and needs to be protected,” she said.