Shellharbour Breakwater in Shellharbour Village has seen many walk along it, and swim and fish off it over the years. Photo: Kellie O’Brien.
A debate over the historic Shellharbour Breakwater has divided councillors, with calls for its urgent repair clashing against assurances the iconic monument is already on the State Government’s radar.
During a recent council meeting, councillors Kellie Marsh and Craig Ridding brought forward a motion calling for urgent action to address the breakwater’s degradation after ongoing community concerns.
Cr Marsh, in the role of acting mayor, said the breakwater was an important piece of infrastructure.
“It isn’t a council asset – it is managed by Transport for NSW’s Maritime Infrastructure – but we have many members of the community that keep asking us, what’s going on with it,” she said.
“It does need repair.
“This is just about continuing to formalise it and make sure the State Government knows we’re still getting enquiries on this, and that we want to work collaboratively with the State Government to improve the village foreshore and the harbour.”
Cr Marsh said part of the motion was to write to Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson and Minister for Transport John Graham to formally call on them for investment into the southern breakwater in Shellharbour harbour to urgently address its degradation.
She said she was also aware council staff had already put in a submission to the Transport for NSW’s Maritime Infrastructure Discussion Paper 2025, which she was part of, and hoped that process would address problems with the breakwater.
Despite the motion ultimately passing with the acting mayor’s deciding vote, it created debate among council members.
Cr Ridding said it was about keeping it on the agenda to ensure it stayed relevant.
Cr Lou Stefanovski opposed the motion, arguing that Ms Watson had already been actively engaged with maritime officials.
He said he was disappointed in the request to “urgently address the degradation of the southern breakwater”, believing a genuine concern about urgent issues would be better served by asking the CEO directly to request a safety investigation with the relevant government department.
Two weeks ago, Cr Stefanovski met with a concerned resident, Ms Watson and two government officials in Shellharbour Village, and later was informed she had met two NSW Maritime directors to discuss the condition of the breakwater.
“Miss Anna Watson, on her Facebook page, informed the public immediately of this meeting and placed four photos, including one of the newly installed warning signage at her request,” he said.
He then proceeded to quote the social post from Ms Watson.
“The Shellharbour Breakwater, which is not for recreational use, is structurally sound but will need some minor remediation capping work on the surface,” he read.
“I am happy to keep the community informed on the progression of these proposed works in due course.”
He questioned why council was getting involved in State Government assets.
The breakwater is an important piece of Shellharbour Village history. Photo: Kellie O’Brien.
Cr Rob Petreski said he agreed with both sides of the argument.
“I remember as a kid playing on that breakwater. I remember as a kid going fishing off that breakwater and swimming off that breakwater,” Cr Petreski said.
He said he had also spoken to concerned community members and people interested in Shellharbour’s history.
“That is quite an historical monument and artefact for us to preserve, and keep part of that heritage going,” he said.
However, he had concerns about the motion’s necessity, suggesting direct communication might be more effective than a formal council resolution.
Cr John Davey said he was voting against it because of a submission already being made to the discussion paper, which was awaiting a response.
He said he also had difficulty reconciling the social media post about it being structurally sound but needing “some minor remediation and capping work”, with the motion calling for “investment into the southern breakwater in Shellharbour to urgently address its degradation”.
Cr Marsh defended the motion, emphasising the council’s responsibility to advocate for community interests and a “worthy piece of infrastructure”.
“Everyone who comes to Shellharbour knows that breakwater. It is part of our village,” she said.
“This is about formalising things and sticking on the side of our residents, because we want that asset fixed.”
She said it wasn’t about being political or attacking anyone, but rather showing council’s ongoing commitment to work collaboratively with the State Government to improve the village and receiving a formal update, adding, “Facebook isn’t formal”.
“While I’m still getting residents contacting me asking what’s going on, I need something formalised, so I have some formal responses,” she said.
“What I need is some documentation to know what’s going on.
“I can’t wait to see it done and let’s all band together and say we’ve done it together as a community.”
Crs Murphy, Marsh, Mitch Ellis and Ridding voted for and Crs Stefanovski, Davey, Petreski and Moira Hamilton against, with Cr Marsh using the deciding vote to carry the motion.
