Construction of the long-awaited Frankston Safe Boat Harbour is expected to start by the end of next year. Frankston City Council has started the public tender process to seek out prospective developers to build and operate the multi-million dollar facility.

The marina, to be located at Olivers Hill, will incorporate up to 300 permanent wet berths and 400 dry berths, public launching ramps, shops, restaurants, accommodation, and open space.

Frankston City Mayor, Councillor Colin Hampton, said the Frankston Safe Boat Harbour will be one of the premier public boating facilities on Port Phillip Bay. “It will provide residents with boat mooring and storage facilities as well as additional restaurants, cafes and shops to cater for the growing Frankston City population and increasing tourist numbers,” he said.

“A variety of employment opportunities will also result from the development of the marina, including retail, hospitality, marine and boating related professions.”

Interested developers have until Thursday, 27 August 2009 to submit a Registration of Interest to take part in the tender process. Request for Tender (RFT) documents will be available on Council’s website, www.frankston.vic.gov.au.

Councillor Hampton said the project has already kindled strong interest from developers across Australia and overseas, including Hong Kong, Canada and Dubai. “On top of exhaustive environmental studies to establish the best location for the marina, Council has overseen a detailed market sounding process, to make sure it will be attractive to investors.”

Developers who meet the initial tender pre-qualification criteria, which measures experience in marine activity and capacity (including financial) to undertake the project, will be short-listed to a list of preferred tenders.

The preferred tenders will be asked to prepare detailed designs, and undertake physical and numerical modelling to ensure the design doesn’t have adverse impacts on surrounding beaches.

“Council has a non-negotiable position that the marina development will not cause any damage to Frankston Beach and surrounds. The successful tender will need to demonstrate their design meets strict environmental guidelines before Council will give it the green light,” Cr Hampton said.

“The tender process itself will take 12 months to complete. Given the complexity of the project it is important to ensure all the boxes are ticked to achieve the best possible outcome – environmentally, economically and socially. This project will be going though the most stringent probity checks; in all aspects, from the very start to the very finish.”

Council has engaged the services of a Probity Auditor who has prepared a comprehensive Probity Plan for the Safe Boat Harbour project. This plan will guide and protect the integrity of the tender process. The Probity Auditor will submit a full report to Council on the tender process.

It‘s anticipated Council will award the tender for the project by September 2010. With construction of the Safe Boat Harbour expected to take two years to complete, the facility is likely to be in operation by late 2012/early 2013. Council will take the role of Committee of Management over the area of crown land to be leased for the Frankston Safe Boat Harbour once the tender is awarded