Since 2014, the Port of Eden has seen a significant increase in cruise ship visitation. To allow cruise ships to berth alongside in Snug Cove, rather than anchoring in Twofold Bay and tendering passengers ashore by boat, a $44 million wharf extension commenced construction in August 2017 and was completed in August 2019.
Passenger vessels up to 345 metres in length are able to berth alongside the upgraded wharf due to the completion of the following key works:
- dredging of approximately 231,500m3 of in situ material from the bed of Snug Cove/Twofold Bay and installing scour protection
- a new wharf face approximately 110m long, resulting from extending the existing wharf.
- installing three mooring dolphins and two berthing dolphins
- installing onshore mooring bollards on the existing wharf
- upgrading existing services such as lighting, power and potable water and emergency fire-fighting water
- installing navigation aids.
The site planning approval permits vessels up to 370m in length to visit at the berth. The following additional infrastructure would need to be developed prior to receiving these longer vessels: installation of an additional mooring dolphin, passenger catwalk extension.
As a consequence of the extended wharf, Eden will experience an increasing visitation of cruise ships and opportunities to local businesses will grow to drive a predicted $48.4 million in regional economic growth, as well as creating more than 80 jobs in the tourism, hospitality and stevedoring industry.
To cater for the growth of cruising to Eden, Port Authority officially opened the Eden Welcome Centre to welcome cruise passengers visiting Snug Cove in April 2022.
Port Authority has conducted air quality monitoring in the residential area near Eden Cruise Wharf during the cruise seasons since 2019, in compliance with conditions of the Infrastructure Approval (SSI 7734). Read Eden air quality monitoring reports
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SSI-7734 Eden Breakwater Wharf Extension
Project approval information and documents for the original Eden Breakwater Wharf Extension were completed by Department of Industry and are available on the NSW Government Major Projects website.
MOD2: Extending use of Cruise Wharf to other non-cruise vessels <100m
As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, cruise operations ceased in Eden from March 2020 to April 2022. The COVID-19 crisis together with the 2019/20 summer bushfires, resulted in reduced business activity in the region and subsequent negative economic impacts to the local community.
Port Authority proposed to modify the Project Approval to optimise the usage and capacity of the Cruise Wharf by vessels less than 100 metres in length, such as fishing vessels, tugs, barges, lines boats or yachts, at times when it is not occupied by a cruise ship. The proposal was assessed to have a positive socio-economic impact on the local community, contributing to the creation of jobs and stimulating economic activity in the area.
The proposal was submitted to Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) in July 2020 and members of the community were invited to comment on the Modification from Thursday 16 July 2020 to Friday 31 July 2020. All submissions received by the Department during the exhibition of the proposal are available on the DPE website. This modification was approved by DPE in October 2020 and is available on the DPE website.
MOD3: Extending use of the Cruise Wharf to larger cruise vessels and removing the annual cruise vessel cap
Port Authority proposed to modify the existing State Significant Infrastructure Approval for the Eden Cruise Wharf to allow for the visitation of larger cruise ships and other vessels to invest in the local economy and tourism, support business opportunities for regional and local communities and respond to ongoing demand from the cruise and shipping industries.
Key aspects of the modification approval include:
- Increase the size of cruise ships allowed to visit the Eden Cruise Wharf up to a maximum length of approximately 370m.
- Allow all ships to remain at berth 24 hours per day. Vessels at berth are still subject to the Eden Cruise Wharf activity operating hours.
- Allow an unrestricted number of cruise ship visits to the Eden Cruise Wharf.
- Construct a mooring dolphin approximately 60 m seaward of the existing mooring dolphins
- Construct a catwalk extension to the existing Eden Cruise Wharf to allow cruise ships to use an additional passenger embarkation/disembarkation door.
Following public consultation on the scope of the proposal an Environmental Assessment Report was prepared and submitted to Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure (DPHI) and placed on public exhibition in September 2023 for 6-weeks. Submissions from public agencies and the community were received and addressed in a Submissions Report submitted to DPHI. The modification was approved by DPHI in May 2024. A copy of all the modification documentation and approval can be found on the Major Projects Portal.
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Documents that outline the project's approach to managing site operations, the environment and engaging with the community:
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The community consultative committee has been formed from the existing project community liaison group, which was formed in January 2015. The purpose of the committee is to provide a forum for discussion between Port Authority, community representatives, key stakeholder groups and Bega Valley Shire Council.
It comprises an independent chairperson, and community representatives from port businesses, maritime user groups, residents surrounding the Port of Eden and the relevant maritime authority, a council representative, and members of the project team.
Meeting minutes: