The design is understood to be for a shorter wave attenuator, but with a 50-berth marina attached.

The proposals are certain to upset the Port of Eden Marina (POEM) group, which has long campaigned for a larger wave attenuator to allow for a marina of 173 berths.

The project has always been classified as a Safe Harbour project rather than a marina project. But there has been an expectation by POEM that the attenuator would create the conditions for a small port port and would encourage private marina development.

The project as envisaged by POEM appeared to be on track with Bega MP Andrew Constance committing a further $9m to an existing $10m allocated to the project in August 2018.

Late in 2018 the Department of Industry stated it was continuing its early contractor involvement activities with Waterway Constructions - which built the wharf extension - to optimise the concept design.

Waterway Constructions is understood to has come back with a price in the region of $30m, throwing the concept and the budget into disarray.

However, the company was in the process of restructuring and then ceasing trading, calling into question the veracity of the quote for the attenuator work.

POEM said the work has never been put out to competitive tender and said they have expert advice stating an attenuator can be built for the money allocated.

In GIPA documents sighted by ACM, government officials admitted on July 26, 2019, that an open tender for a fixed wave attenuator panel would most likely result in a lower cost than that provided by Waterway Constructions, but would not include WOL (whole of life) costs for the $19m allocated.

Advocates for the marina say contracts do not usually include whole of life costs, which would cover maintenance at various levels, as this would be something that can be difficult to predict.