Despite some recent inclement weather, developers say key aspects of The Waterfront, Shell Cove project remain on track.
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"We can really feel community sentiment building, you can see excitement building," Simone Dyer, development director Shell Cove, Frasers Property Australia said.
"It's not a long wait now until we can all have a drink in the pub or a meal at a waterside restaurant."
Shell Cove is a joint development between Shellharbour City Council and Frasers Property Australia.
A focal point of the masterplanned community will be the 270-berth boat harbour and Shellharbour Marina next to the town centre featuring a retail precinct anchored by a Woolworths supermarket, with specialty shops and restaurants on the marina's edge.
There will also be a waterfront tavern, hotel, children's beach, water play areas, library and community centre.
In March, council and Frasers Property began the process of opening the new regional boat harbour to the sea.
An excavator was due to remove the temporary sand bund that has held the harbour and the ocean apart while a water quality testing program was completed.
"The significant milestone of a Shellharbour council vision born almost 30 years ago starts today," Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said at the time.
Speaking on Thursday, Ms Dyer said there was currently plenty of activity happening at The Waterfront.
"In terms of the boat harbour itself, we opened the boat harbour to the ocean a couple of weeks ago, by starting the removal of the sand bund," she said.
"The pontoons are progressing really well - the last of the pontoons is coming into the harbour I believe this week with assembly and services reticulation over the next couple of months.
"In terms of the foreshore public domain works, they're all progressing well for a mid-year completion.
"By the time we get to spring, we'll have a boat harbour that's full of water, hopefully with boats, and public open spaces open to the public."
Ms Dyer said the tavern was also progressing well, with the building lining going on at the moment, including the roof.
The Waterfront Tavern is due for completion in spring.
"At the Aqua Apartments, the residential dwellings are nearing completion, and the restaurant precinct at the bottom of those apartments is about to commence construction in terms of the internal fit-out works," Ms Dyer said.
"Those will be opening about the middle of the year as well, those three restaurants."
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