Shoalhaven City Marina

In a huge boon for the marine industry, the first stage of the much-anticipated Shoalhaven City Marina is expected to be operational in the first half of 2011.

Located near Nowra, just 150km south of Sydney, on the edge of Berry’s Canal – where, in 1822, Alexander Berry dug Australia’s first transport canal, linking the Shoalhaven and Crookhaven rivers and creating a navigable passage to the Tasman Sea – Shoalhaven City Marina is the first development of its kind on the South Coast.

When fully developed, the facility will provide a 200+ berth marina, a 240+ berth dry stack facility, an up-market clubhouse and a full suite of industrial marine support services – including facilities for boatbuilders and manufacturers of other marine products.

Fully funded and with complete Council DA approval, Shoalhaven City Marina is one of very few freehold marina developments in NSW. The marina is owned by Albury Holdings and is being developed by Southern Cross Waterfronts (SCW).

SCW’s Simone Coombes said the entire site was being developed in a “carefully-phased manner” in response to demand from the market.

“Starting in the south of the site, we plan a clubhouse which will provide a safe and pleasant environment for club members and guests, including first-class facilities to unwind after a long day on the water,” Ms Coombes said.

“Next is the marina, with space for up to 200 mono-hull and catamaran vessels, varying in length from 10-20m, moored against superbly-crafted Walcon Jetties.

“Also catered for are owners of boats up to 10m in length who wish to have their boats stored in our dry stack facility.

“In the north, we are creating a marine industrial park which will house all the facilities required for boats to be expertly serviced and maintained.

“Five factories for boatbuilders and other marine services will create a fully-serviced, one-stop marine facility with 20,000sqm of industrial space, a travelift and marine fork lift, and a dedicated fuel wharf.”

The owners and developers of Shoalhaven City Marina said they were strongly committed to the Triple Bottom Line and through their strategies were delivering “significant environmental value” and “the marine infrastructure needed to ensure the NSW South Coast’s boating and yachting destination value is held in perpetuity”.

“Shoalhaven City Marina is the product of determined and persistent effort over a considerable period of time from a wide range of stakeholders that includes local government, local industry, investors and developers alike,” Ms Coombes said.

“It is the undeniable result of the shared vision and passion of all these parties.”