The recent storm that put 12 yachts up on the beach at Callala is going to have long lasting consequences for the yachting fraternity.
Still unpleasant out at sea now with unusual heavy swell running for this time of the year.
www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/130243/bay-is-too-risky/
Unfortunately for those on the south coast, and we are considering moving there, there are few places to moor a boat. Callala Bay is an open ocean anchorage in these conditions and I would never moor a valuable boat there. It is the same as building your house on a flood plain and then complaining when it gets flooded. Greenwell Point and Currambene Creek are the only two reasonable spots for a boat.
I can see a marina being built in JB if the environmental restrictions can be resolved.
Loosechange, I agree.
When there were proposals to move the Navy to JB in the 80s/90s I was one of those who would have chained myself to the earthmovers, despite being in the Navy then.
But there must be a growing chorus of south coast boat owners and potential boat owners after somewhere to put a boat. I don't know how many spots are left in Greenwell Pt and Currambene Ck but they must be filling up.
There are plenty of moorings to go in Greenwell Point and no restrictions. Currembene creek is part of the National park and the slipway there is long gone. Six foot draft vessels can just get in on a high tide. Callala has plenty of expensive yachts, One of the local boats is down there at the moment on his other mooring. Its the only $500,000 yacht I can think of but there are plenty of $100,000 to $200,000 yachts there. Our friend Shane has a North shore 38 now as well as his Davidson 34. The lone SS34 is starting to look decidedly small down there now.
The problem is insurance. There are two clubs involved here although most of the yachts race in the cruising club. They need insurance to race and they need at least 3rd party property coverage to use the 3 council run slips for the area.
For a place that has one toilet with one urinal and a half sized hand basin I think a marina may be reaching a bit.
As it stands at present there is no marina between Wollongong and Batemans Bay on the South Coast. This situation disadvantages the entire South Coast as a cruising destination. Given that the Shell Cove Marina was finally approved by the Council and State Planning in 2008, yet here in 2012 boat owners in Shellharbour are still waiting for the first sod to be turned and a start made.
The latest news (3 weeks ago) courtesy Illawarra Mercury, Thursday 7th June 2012
"Shellharbour's application for a $10 million federal grant for the long-delayed Shell Cove boat harbour and marina has been rejected for a second time."
Based on that time line and the incompetence of Shoalhaven City Council I think it safe to say that no marina will ever be built in the Shoalhaven area and certainly not in JB.
Currently none of the major marine insurance companies are willing to insure a yacht moored in Calala Bay. Another knock for South Coast yachting.
From the Illawarra Mercury 25/05/2012 "At last! The Shell Cove marina finally has a start date after Shellharbour Mayor Kellie Marsh gave an "iron-clad guarantee" that work on the stalled project would begin by early 2013."
Just remember it was a politician that said it and we all know what their "iron-clad guarantees" are worth.
Current projected completion date is 2022. Uh huh! Please bear in mind that the Shell Cove Marina complex was first mooted over forty years ago.
Anyone here still think that Shoalhaven or JB will ever get a marina?
Your quite correct Harry. My yacht is just out of the picture to the right, just West of that catamaran.
I was looking at Google earth though when I made the comment about the catamarans and trimarans in Currambene creek. We don't have any trimarans here on moorings, one in a front yard. Count the multi hulls in that creek, quite amazing.
That large catamaran that ended up on the beach at Callala belongs to the strategic manager of the Shoalhaven council. I'm sure he would like to see at least a break wall installed. The National parks is the problem not the council.
