The Shellharbour Marina reached another milestone this week, as the installation of the floating pontoons got under way.
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Following the completion of the boat harbour structural work in December, the boat harbour at The Waterfront, Shell Cove has been filling naturally with water.
The Waterfront will have capacity for 270 berths on completion, and 145 berths are projected to be complete by the end of June.
On Friday, Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said the installation of the floating pontoons marks a "visually significant" milestone.
"A safe harbour of this significance between Sydney and Eden has been on the strategic infrastructure agenda for decades, so there's great anticipation among boaties as well as the local community," she said.
"We've already received many inquiries about marina-related berthing and services.
"Everything will be here for boat enthusiasts including berthing, a maintenance facility and fuelling services, all complemented by a wide range of dining and entertainment options on the waterfront."
Simone Dyer, development director at Frasers Property Australia said the harbour flooding has progressed well in the past few weeks thanks to the rain over Christmas, with the water level sitting at the low tide mark, which means there is about 3m of water in the harbour so far.
"With Bellingham Marine commencing installation of the floating marina pontoons this week, this new world-class boating destination is one step closer to welcoming visitors," Ms Dyer said.
"The pontoons are craned into the harbour directly from the road trucks and assembled in the water.
"Once assembled, installation of the services provisions including potable water, power, and provisions for Wi-Fi and CCTV will follow.
"A total of 145 berths will be in this first stage, to accommodate vessels from 12 metres to 30 metres in both the inner and outer harbour, and will be physically complete by the end of June.
"There will also be two 25-metre twin hull charter vessel berths at the public jetty pontoons."
Ms Dyer said the next boat harbour milestone will be the removal of the sand bund, completing the channel connection between the harbour and the ocean.
However, this will take time, as the stabilisation of ground water, storm water and ocean waters currently in the harbour is largely dependent on the weather.
Frasers Property says the key activation components of The Waterfront are now forecast to be ready to open by mid-to-late August, or at the latest September.
This includes the synchronised completion of the Shellharbour Marina, The Waterfront Tavern, Harbourside Dining Precinct, public boat ramp and car park, Foreshore Promenade and boardwalks.
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