A spokeswoman for the Roads and Maritime Services confirmed a notice of termination had been served on September 30.

"Expressions of interest in managing the commercial marina are expected to be called in coming months," she said.

Fairfax Media has previously revealed that Moses Obeid, who along with his father Eddie was found to be corrupt by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, has a hidden interest in the marina.

On paper the marina is co-owned by Moses Obeid's friend Michael Dalah, a ragtrader, as well as Strathfield real estate agent Joseph Georges, who has previously acted as a front for the Obeids in a resources company at the centre of an ICAC inquiry.

Mr Dalah recently told Fairfax Media that while Moses Obeid is involved in the day-to-day running of the marina, he did so on behalf of Mr Georges. Mr Dalah said he had "no idea" about what arrangements the pair had in regard to the marina.

He also said that Moses Obeid "gets not one cent out of this place".

Prior to the 2011 state election, the then Upper House MP Eddie Obeid used his political position to lobby both the Premier Kristina Keneally and the planning minister Tony Kelly in relation to the marina.

Mr Obeid pressed Mr Kelly to try to remove the marina from the planning control of the City of Sydney council.

It was hoped that once out of the council's control, a huge marina could be built, reaping millions for the Obeids and their associates. Mr Kelly, who has also been found by ICAC to be corrupt over the backdating of a document, has previously claimed he couldn't remember assisting his then colleague over the expansion plans for the marina. When it was put to him that he had been seen inspecting the marina, Mr Kelly offered: "I was down there one day when I was going past."

The then head of NSW Maritime Steve Dunn, who was found to have acted corruptly in relation to the Obeid family's secret ownership of café leases at Circular Quay, was also enlisted by the Obeids to help with their marina plans.

In an interview in May 2011, Mr Dunn claimed to be "completely blindsided" by the suggestion that the Obeids were involved in the marina. He told Fairfax Media at the time: "I want to qualify this because I am peripherally aware that one of the Obeids, Moses I think, might have had some, ah, I'm trying to think how I would know that, um, probably in conversation with one of the proponents."

One of those planning to tender for the marina is Adam Marshall, who ran the successful Bird and Bear café on the marina for three years, before falling out with Moses Obeid and Michael Dalah.

Wealthy locals developer Theo Onisforou, transport tycoon Lindsay Fox and Nick Paspaley from the famous pearl family have also indicated they would submit a joint tender to keep the marina safe from over-development.

The marina has not gone to public tender for 30 years. The current lessees have had a monthly lease since 2009. It is understood they have been given three months notice.