Installation of the new Nautica Crescent bridge to connect Shell Cove and Shellharbour Village. Photos: Kellie O’Brien.
Two long-awaited pedestrian bridges linking Shellharbour Village and The Waterfront, Shell Cove have swung into place, marking a major step in finally connecting the historic village with the marina precinct.
Craned into position this week, the bridges are expected to open within six weeks, promising easier walks to cafes, schools, the marina and the harbour without the need for a car.
The bridge connecting Mary Street and Nautica Crescent was moved into place first, followed by a second bridge over the wetlands channel connecting Whimbrel Terrace and Sophia Street.
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer said the links formed part of broader upgrades to parks and open space in the waterfront precinct through its partnership with Frasers Property Australia, with the second bridge also being part of the major redevelopment of Sophia Park.
Councillor Homer said when Sophia Park was completed later this year it would feature a playground, community garden, multigenerational fitness and play equipment, picnic shelter, a half basketball court and futsal goal, an in-ground trampoline, bike racks, benches and a public toilet.
Although residents had already carved out two informal walking paths, he said the new bridges would provide a safer, more direct route for people to walk, cycle or scoot between the two areas, while promoting an active lifestyle and easing parking strain.
“It’s extremely important, especially in bringing our Active Transport Strategy to life,” he said while awaiting the first bridge to be craned into place.
“Even in the last term, there’s been strong advocacy from the community for these connections, because we do advocate that we’re a lifestyle city.
“We have this new shiny asset with the marina, and people specifically from the village want these connections and know that these connections have been on the board for quite some time.
“It’s a simple addition with a big community benefit.”
Cr Homer said a key outcome of the project was to get people out exploring the marina-front dining and shopping in Shell Cove, and eateries and arts and cultural precinct with Roo Theatre, Imaginarium and library in the village, but without the need for a car.
“Further to that, I think it will also relieve parking in the area, which is always a huge issue in Shellharbour,” he said.
“If they can walk there, it can open up parking for visitors coming from outside of the LGA.”
He said the two footbridges were more than just pieces of infrastructure: they signalled that the long-promised connections between the village and Shell Cove were finally becoming reality.
Along with the bridges, Sophia Park will involve the existing community garden, temporarily located near the Shell Cove town centre, becoming a permanent fixture within the park.
It will include public access garden beds and a planting area designed for everyone, but particularly residents of the nearby aged care facility, Warrigal Care.
An adjacent landscaped bioretention basin will be a serene landscaped green space and a sustainable method of filtering stormwater and will complete the wetland channel works.
Frasers Property Australia development director Mat Gulliver said it was a long time coming, with “walkability” having been a feature of the masterplans.
“While it’s not within the Shell Cove precinct exactly, we really need to get people traversing between Shell Cove and Shellharbour Village,” Mat said.
“It’s a benefit to businesses and to all the residents, being able to walk to access both.”
Mat said the Sophia Park works would precede the completion of the eastern harbour foreshore landscaping, also underway and due for completion in 2026.
“As part of this work we’re doing between Sophia Park and the bridges, we’re also doing open space and foreshore works around the northern side of the harbour,” he said.
“This year we’re doing pretty much all of the final landscaping and open space works for the project.
“It’s an exciting phase in the program, seeing it all come together.”
