With Eden’s $44million wharf extension project now fully funded, the focus is squarely on a marina for the town.
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Port of Eden Marina president Fritz Drenkhahn welcomed Monday’s announcement of $29million in new state government funding to complete the wharf extension.
Mr Drenkhahn said the next step in the port's development was a wave attenuator to create a safe harbour for a commercial marina in Snug Cove.
"This will bring year round jobs, investment and additional tourism – the economic stimulus that Eden clearly needs," he said.
POEM was eagerly awaiting the state government’s decision on the location of the attenuator, which was crucial to whether a financially viable marina would go ahead in Snug Cove, he said.
Meanwhile, the developer behind the proposed marina and hotel development at Cattle Bay described Monday's funding announcement as "outstanding news".
Eden Marina Cattle Bay spokesman Bob Carter said Eden had been 'future proofed'. "This telegraphs a powerful message of long term commitment to, and confidence in Eden,” he said.
"We can expect tourists to arrive literally by the ship load at Eden wharf, larger planes from Sydney and Melbourne will soon be flying into the upgraded Merimbula regional airport and international flights will be arriving in Canberra," he said.
Mr Carter predicted the Cattle Bay marina precinct would become the focal point for water-based tourist activities including whale watching, eco-tourism, deep sea fishing, boat charters, scuba diving and all types of water sports.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s visit prompted a scathing response from federal opposition infrastructure, transport and tourism spokesman Anthony Albanese and Eden-Monaro candidate Mike Kelly.
“The Liberal government's magical infrastructure re-announcement tour reached farcical proportions with Malcolm Turnbull pretending that an upgrade of the Eden Port was new when it was actually announced [by Labor] in 2013,” they said.