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SHOALHAVEN City Council is currently carrying out detailed design work on the final layout of a proposed marina in the Shoalhaven River in Nowra.
Council placed 13, 11.5m long and 2.5m wide pontoons, in the river as part of the Shoalhaven River Festival last October with the plan to leave them in place on a permanent basis and form the area's first marina.
However, in mid November council was ordered to remove the pontoons by the Department of Primary Industries.
A DPI spokesperson said council’s use of the pontoons was a temporary installation for the marine expo at the river festival event only and it had not gained approvals to situate the pontoons at the site on a permanent basis.
Director Corporate and Community Craig Milburn said detailed design work was now being carried out.
“Last week we had divers in the Shoalhaven River to examine the condition of the wharf’s pylons,” he said.
“This is all part of the design work.”
Mr Milburn said council was continuing to get the application prepared for the relevant authorities for approval, however it may still be “a couple of months” before it was lodged.
“I’m happy with how it is progressing,” he said.
One of the biggest issues DPI raised with council at the time the pontoons were ordered to be removed was around possible damage to seagrass in the area from shading.
The Register was told the pontoons were situated on Crown Land and over seagrass, which was an important nursery ground for juvenile fish, playing a vital role in maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems and conserving fish stocks.
A DPI statement said seagrass was a key fish habitat and nursery and shading from the pontoons being in the river on a permanent basis could have a considerable impact.
“Seagrass beds in the Shoalhaven are vital to support local recreational and commercial fishing industries,” a DPI spokesperson said.
“Harm to seagrass is an activity that is regulated under the Fisheries Management Act, and requires approval from DPI Fisheries.”
Mr Milburn said council was taking into account concerns about the seagrass in its application.
“We will address all things as needed going through the process,” he said.
“The question of seagrases is one of those issues.”
Shoalhaven City Council purchased the pontoons ahead of last year’s festival with the plan to have them permanently in the river and becoming a public asset.
As well forming a permanent marina area, there were also plans to make the pontoons available to the public or anyone who wants to hold an event.
In the meantime they have been removed from the river and placed in storage at Greys Beach until their permanent future can be decided.