EUROBODALLA Shire Council has received a “very strong” response from developers interested in progressing a deep-water marina in Batemans Bay.
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The council last week advertised for expressions of interest from organisations interested in potential investment in the precinct.
Chairman of council’s deep-water marina committee, Cr Peter Schwarz, said there had been a “very very very good response” so far.
“We were quite surprised at the response we’ve had, that’s everything from contractors and engineers to big development players,” he said.
“We’ve had (interest) from a number of companies that do have projects going overseas. It seems like there is interest there in the market.”
The concept is to extend the Clyde River training wall to create a protected harbour and redevelop part of the Corrigans Beach foreshore.
Dredging would maintain the required sea-bed depth and enable “generous areas” of reclaimed land for development.
It is envisaged the project would include a multi-storey four- to five-star resort, restaurants, bars and specialty shops, a cruise ship pontoon wharf, a boating club, a 100-berth marina and dry boat storage.
Eurobodalla Shire Council voted last year to seek $200,000 from the NSW Government for a feasibility study of the marina but has not yet had success.
Cr Schwarz said Bega MP Andrew Constance was positive about the project, and Eden-Monaro MP Peter Hendy was aware of it, however funding had not been made available.
He said it was always the intention the private sector would fund the project so it was “surprising” the state government had no money for feasibility and conceptual plans to help the council go to the market.
“That’s why we’re going straight to the market, because we’re getting limited traction politically,” Cr Schwarz said.
“We’re looking for a developer to say ‘yes we are prepared to be involved in this in the long haul’ and enter in a partnership with Eurobodalla Shire Council and state and other agencies to deliver the Batemans Bay deep-water marina precinct, which will do Batemans Bay an economic impetus to aid in social and economic development, which the area so desperately needs.”
Expressions of interest close in December. It is envisaged the next stage will be a feasibility study on how the project should be delivered.