Wollongong MP Paul Scully is worried summer visitors to Belmore Basin could be greeted by a big hole in the ground.
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For a few years, the slipway site at Belmore Basin's central pier has been surrounded by fencing due to soil contamination from fuels and waste oils connected to boat maintenance.
Earlier this year, the government called for tenders to remediate the site.
In a response to a question on notice from Mr Scully, Water, Property and Housing Minister Melinda Pavey said tender submissions were now being evaluated but an idea of when the work would be finished was unclear.
"A start date cannot be confirmed until the contract is awarded," Ms Pavey said. "However work is anticipated to commence before the end of the calendar year."
That response gave Mr Scully cause for concern.
"... when we've got our peak visitation around the harbour, we've got a hole in the centre pier."
- Wollongong MP Paul Scully on the planned Belmore Basin remediation work
"It's a good thing that the government is doing this," Mr Scully said.
"I just hope there's some thought given to the fact that this is one of our key tourism assets.
"It needs to be done but what I'm concerned about is the timing of this may mean that in peak tourist season when we've got our peak visitation around the harbour, we've got a hole in the centre pier where the remediation works are going on."
He hoped the government was keeping an eye on the calendar to ensure the popular tourist spot didn't suffer during the summer months.
"The concern that it will start at the end of the year is my worry," he said.
"I'd like to see them get in, approve the tender as quickly as possible so we can get someone in there to do the work and hopefully have it finished by the end of the year rather than just having it started by then."
A spokeswoman for Crown Lands said a successful tenderer would be announced soon.
"Remediation work will get under way as soon as possible after the contract is awarded and work, health and safety and environmental plans are put in place," the spokeswoman said.
However, the spokeswoman suggested work could still be going on while people spend summer on the sands at Belmore Basin
"The remediation work is expected to take three to five months depending on the level of contamination that is found from past maritime industry, given that Wollongong Harbour has been in use since the 1850s," the Crown Lands spokeswoman said.
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
