In 2016 Crown Lands said the attenuator design would be informed by the pre-conditions required for a marina.
- Rob Bain, POEM
The Port of Eden Marina (POEM) community group has welcomed recognition of the potential for a marina, in government documents calling for expressions of interest in a wave attenuator for Eden.
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However POEM secretary Rob Bain said the proposed alignment of the wave attentuator remains problematic.
Just prior to Christmas and after tense exchanges between the government and POEM, an addendum appeared to the Department of Industry’s EOI for the attenuator which is part of the Eden Safe Harbour Project.
The addendum states that while the project is not linked to, or dependent on any proposed marina development, the existence of a potential future marina should be considered in any attenuator design.
EOI applicants are being encouraged to consider future proofing the attenuator design for a future marina or other boat storage facilities.
“In 2016 during the community liaison group meetings held by Crown Lands they said the attenuator design would be informed by the pre-conditions required for a marina,” Dr Bain said.
“But for reasons I have never been able to fathom the EOI never mentioned the marina. We immediately lodged a protest with ministers in November and got International Marina Consultants (IMC) to review the site of the attenuator which they said was in the wrong place,” Dr Bain said.
IMC has been involved from 2011 after undertaking an economic feasibility study on the potential marina, paid for by Bega Valley Shire Council, Dr Bain said.
“The attenuator alignment was shown to us in 2015 and was rejected by users then so I can’t think why they have served it up again,” Dr Bain said.
He said its position creates problems for tugs and commercial fishing boats when leaving the wharf and requires them to leave through the area designated as a potential marina. POEM will make a submission to the government’s Review of Environmental Factors.