The $44 million Eden Breakwater Wharf Extension Project has taken an important step forward with the completion of Stage One dredging and scour protection works.
Member for Bega Andrew Constance said Stage One involved dredging the port and the construction and installation of 4000 square metres of scour protection which would safeguard the wharf from turbulence generated by cruise ship propulsion systems
“It’s a significant milestone for the project which saw approximately 210,000 cubic metres dredged and 172 scour protection mattresses being fabricated and laid on the seabed,” Mr Constance said.
“Waterway Constructions is gearing up for Stage Two of the project – commencing with driving some 127 steel piles into the seabed to create the foundations for the new wharf and mooring structures.
This work is due to start in April and construction is expected to take up to eight months to complete, weather permitting.”
Mr Constance said one of the most encouraging aspects of the works so far had been the level of Aboriginal participation in the construction workforce which exceeded the 1.5 per cent the NSW Government requires for projects over $10 million.
“The social enterprise arm of Twofold Aboriginal Corporation - Mundabaa Constructions – had up to 19 Aboriginal employees working on Stage One of the project and we hope to continue those levels of local Aboriginal employment in the project,” Mr Constance said.
“The $44 million Eden Breakwater Wharf Extension is a major infrastructure project for NSW and a significant investment to drive economic activity in the south east of the state.
“The project involves extending the existing Breakwater Wharf to allow cruise ships up to 325 metres long to berth in the port,” Mr Constance said.
The project is fully funded with the support of the NSW Government ($32 million), Australian Government ($10 million) and Bega Valley Shire Council ($2 million).
