Lake Macquarie's Marmong Point Marina has been given planning approval for a $3.1
million expansion which will provide a local tourism and employment boost.
Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning Barbara Perry said the marina expansion will meet a growing demand for boat storage on Lake Macquarie and the redevelopment is expected to generate 25 construction jobs and produce significant economic gains for the Lake Macquarie region.

An additional 85 berths will be constructed by Marmong Point Marina Pty Ltd, bringing the total capacity of the marina to 245 berths. Other improvements to the area will include the construction of a public foreshore boardwalk and a publicly-accessible sewer pump-out facility that ensures waste disposal in accordance with current environmental standards. Minister Perry said a number of design options were canvassed by the proponent in its pre-lodgement community consultation and the final design was the most compact plan and provided the best protection for the environment. A number of swing moorings will be relocated while ten commercial moorings will be removed under the proposal. No recreational moorings will be lost. Ms Perry said that the proposal complies with navigation and entrance channel requirements. "As part of the proposal, a 30 metre wide navigation channel will be put in place around the marina, which will allow safer movements to and from the public boat ramp," she said. "The public will continue to have access to the marina's fuel berth via the proposed navigation channel."

Ms Perry also said the proposal ensured that the eastern shore of Marmong Cove would be upgraded to include a foreshore boardwalk and would continue to be fully accessible by the public for recreational activities such as swimming, kayaking and fishing. New dinghy storage racks to be supplied by the proponent will tidy up the foreshore and reduce foreshore damage. Conditions of approval include controls during construction and operation, and ongoing monitoring to ensure the marina operates in accordance with strict environmental controls. The conditions of approval also include measures to protect any Aboriginal cultural heritage values discovered on the site in consultation with the local Aboriginal community.

Date: 27 February 2010