SOS call to save marina

By KERRIELYN CLARK

Former Shellharbour mayor David Hamilton believes the council has been left with no choice but to go cap-in-hand to the State government to bail out the failing Shell Cove marina.

With Austrland’s fragile financial position now clear and the project shelved indefinitely, Mr Hamilton said the council had to take immediate action.

“Australand should not be allowed to walk away from this,’’ Mr Hamilton said.

The former mayor said should the company want out, the council should seek another partner and or ask the State and Federal Governments for help.

In the wake of Saturday’s local government elections, Mr Hamilton said he felt frustrated Shellharbour residents had lost dialogue through their council.

“I don’t feel bitter (about being sacked). I just think it’s sad that the residents of Shellharbour were not able to make a choice on election day,’’ he said.

“I have been involved in politics for close to 40 years and this is the first time I have not been involved and I feel a bit empty to be honest.’’

With the dust of his council’s July dismissal now settled, Mr Hamilton said he still believed a number of factors had contributed to the council’s downfall and the state of the marina project.

“I believe if the council had not been dismissed Australand would not be getting away with what they are now,’’ he said.

“I don’t blame the council, the councillors, council officers or the GM, I just believe it’s been a combination of things that have put this city in the position it’s in.

“The council officers should have been more aware of what was going on (with the viability of the marina project),” Mr Hamilton said, “but because of the personal attacks and outside interference they may have dropped the ball.’’

Shellharbour City Council Administrator David Jesson said he still had absolute confidence in the marina project.

“There is no question about the boat harbour and marina; it’s just a matter of when work will be able to begin, not whether it will,’’ he said. “The options the former mayor has put forward are all options open to me. I think the community wants greater certainty about what’s happening and, more importantly, when it’s going to happen.’’

Mr Jesson plans to release the previously untabled Shell Cove management agreement at the September 30 council meeting.