Treasurer and Member for Bega, Andrew Constance, has delivered a $10million boost to Eden’s economy in his first State Budget.
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The $10million will go towards making Snug Cove a safe harbour by building a wave attenuator, as the first stage of a larger marina project for the Port of Eden.
Efforts to have a wave attenuator built have been strongly advocated by the Port of Eden Marina Group (POEM), whose largely volunteer work in building a case for a wave attenuator, plus persistence in lobbying the State Government, were praised by the Treasurer.
Mr Constance rang the Magnet ahead of his first Budget delivery to tell us of Eden’s Budget boon.
“The POEM group have done a fantastic job in advocating for this wave attenuator to make a safe harbour in Eden.
“I have been really concerned about Eden’s future, and I strongly believe it needs this infrastructure investment to have one,” Mr Constance said.
The POEM group includes retired Eden fisherman Fritz Drenkhahn, retired lobbyists Rob Bain of Broadwater and Jon Gaul of Tura, along with other local businesspeople.
It is supported by a local membership base of interested business people and members of the public, keen to see the wave attenuator built.
Havoc wrought by gale force winds to the Snug Cove precinct, including the fishing fleet and any smaller vessels tied up at the wharf, is well documented.
Ahead of strong south westerly winds, those with advance warning seek shelter on the southern side of Twofold Bay, anchoring off Edrom Lodge in the lee of the navy multipurpose wharf.
Commenting on 76-knot winds experienced in November last year, POEM president Fritz Drenkhahn said: “NSW Maritime has the Port of Eden listed as unsafe. Sunday (November 3, 2013) was the perfect example of why it is unsafe.
“I’ve seen similar conditions to Sunday, but I wouldn’t say I’ve seen worse.
“76 knots is getting up there.
“We haven’t had one of them for a fair while, normally it’s around 50 to 60 knots.
“It’s what we call ‘smoking’; It looks like a snow storm coming through.
“It’s just wind but it’s that fast it picks up the water and sets it flying.
“I’m not a climate change supporter but if these storms are going to be more prolific, then ‘yes’, there is an urgency to get a wave attenuator at Snug Cove and make the port safe for smaller vessels,” he said.
“It’s the direction the wind was coming from.
“Coming from Boydtown you’ve got the full fetch of the bay, with 50 – 60 knot winds whipping up the sea and causing a short, nasty swell at Snug Cove that gives a pitching effect.
“It’s quite lethal.”
We will bring you further details of this announcement as they become available.
