Shell Cove green space preserved as council puts The Waterfront Centre plans on hold

Shellharbour City Council has listened to the community and voted to preserve a cherished parcel of green space overlooking the marina at Shell Cove for public use in perpetuity.

The decision puts plans for The Waterfront Centre Project at that ‘Location A’ site on hold as council explores alternative options, ensuring the beloved site remains a haven for recreation and relaxation.

At the 17 December council meeting, councillors supported the recommendation to investigate the centre being developed at an alternate ‘Location B’ site at the entrance of the Waterfront Town Centre, after 62 per cent of the 879 community respondents voted for the site.

It also supported investigating the Shellharbour Village Theatre Library site, as suggested by the community, to deliver a multi-purpose facility in the village area.

Cr Rob Petreski, who moved the motion which was seconded by Cr Lou Stefanovski, also added an amendment to investigate ways to protect the green space parcel of land on the Location A site from being sold and retain it in council’s ownership for community use for perpetuity.

He said the reason for the addition “in perpetuity” was to ensure it remained in the community’s hands for community use.

“I think everybody would like to see that retained as open space,” Cr Petreski said.

“It is well utilised, and perhaps council did such a good job in setting that open space up originally that people started using that organically, and they started using it as an extra play space, as an extra open space to enjoy with their kids, whether they’re having a picnic or whatever else.

“Given Shell Cove and Shellharbour City’s growth, I can only see it being more utilised, not less.”

However, he wanted to advocate for the centre going ahead in another location.

Originally, The Waterfront Centre was proposed to be the community heart of Shell Cove, with a library, Visitor Information Centre, community spaces and public amenities.

It was planned to replace the aging Shellharbour Village Library and Visitor Information Centre to meet the needs of the growing community.

Respondents who chose options ‘B’ or ‘C’ were also asked to provide feedback on their prioritisation of key elements for the waterfront precinct.

The respondents rated elements in order of most to least important, with the most important being public toilets and baby change facilities and least important being the Shell Cove library.

“Given Shell Cove has been a work in progress for 40-odd years … a lot has changed,” Cr Petreski said.

“So we need to make sure we are adaptive, and we do listen to the community, and we do provide all the things we said we were going to provide, but we can do it in a way that will maybe satisfy a more contemporary view of the Shell Cove development.

“In particular, that area in and around the waterfront, which is, like I said, well utilised, well loved, and I’m sure will remain that way.”

Cr Kellie Marsh said she was glad council was able to prove some people wrong and show that it wasn’t all about the money at the marina.

“It’s about community, it’s about family, and it is about our tourists as well,” Cr Marsh said.

“It’s wonderful that such a beautiful block of land, in the most pristine site, people can sit at and picnic and children can play football and just have fun.”

The motion was unanimously passed.