However, speaking on ABC South East Mr Constance said if costs came in one dollar over the agreed budget, it would revert to the cheaper floating attenuator which had been discussed more recently. $19m has been allocated for the project with about $3m spent on studies.

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POEM (Port of Eden Marina) members have advocated for a fixed attenuator for the safe harbour project saying that a marina behind the attenuator would be something provided by the private sector. Mr Constance said he wanted to see a floating attenuator with number of public berths similar to Bermagui.

Waterway Construction who worked on the wharf produced a quote believed to be close to $30m, but the company was in the process of ceasing operations and according to POEM secretary Dr Rob Bain, the quote also had to include lifetime maintenance, something that had not been part of the process for the wharf extension.

POEM has collected around 1800 signatures, many of which included detailed comments in support of the fixed wave attenuator.

Dr Bain said he was "greatly relieved" when he heard Mr Constance say he would go out to the market. Dr Bain said both the marine consultant used by POEM and Tas Marine Construction have said the fixed attenuator could be built in budget.

Tas Marine Construction is currently working at Eden and has built wave attenuators elsewhere. Director Tom Wilcox said the company was interested in bidding for construction of the Eden attenuator.

"From what I have seen of the plans and our experience with the local conditions we will have no trouble coming in below budget. If the tender was to come out as a D &C (design and construct) we would be very interested in tendering," Mr Wilcox told POEM's marine consultant John Leman.