An artist’s impression of the Shell Cove Waterfront Centre building. Images: Shellharbour City Council.
Shellharbour City Council has called for community input on Shell Cove’s proposed Waterfront Centre to see whether it’s still suitable, given changes in the suburb and wider Shellharbour area over the past two decades.
Community members are being invited to share their feedback on the proposed location for the two-storey community centre, a new facility intended to replace the ageing Shellharbour Village Library and Visitor Information Centre.
It’s expected to include the library; visitor information centre; flexible areas for functions, meetings, study, reading or workshops; public toilets and baby change facilities; and a public lounge area and indoor seating.
Shellharbour City Council is holding two community consultation sessions to determine whether the suggested 2 Waterfront Promenade site, near the marina, Crown Plaza hotel and kids’ beach, remains suitable for the growing community.
As part of the process, the council is also offering a second location option on the corner of Harbour and Cove boulevards alongside the Woolworths carpark, and encouraging the community to suggest a potential third site for further investigation.
The two Waterfront Centre locations being proposed.
Shellharbour City Council Mayor Chris Homer said much had changed in Shell Cove and the Shellharbour LGA in the past 20 years and the council wanted to understand whether the Waterfront Centre was still relevant to the community as it reached its next major milestone in the Shell Cove Master Plan.
“We know there has been a lot of commentary in the community about whether the location of the Waterfront Centre is right or whether the community would like it retained as green space,” Cr Homer said.
“This is the community’s opportunity to tell council what they would like to see.
“Does the community prefer to keep all of the green space or does it want to see the library, community centre and visitor information centre there?”
On social media this week, many in the community have opposed the original location A, citing the need for green spaces, picnic areas and play areas to accommodate and attract families and to preserve the marina’s natural beauty.
The design of the Waterfront Centre has been inspired by the curves of a tugboat forged by traditional shipbuilding materials, with the building estimated to cost $21m.
In comparison, the new option B is a more understated building estimated to cost $15m, including the land purchase.
Council staff will be at location A on Saturday, 19 October, and Thursday, 24 October, from 9 am to noon to talk about the project and answer any questions from the community.
Residents can share their feedback via the online survey, via physical copies at Shellharbour libraries and the customer service centre, or by attending one of the community drop-in sessions.
You can learn more about the proposal on the council’s website.
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