Mulwala Water Ski Club management have been impressed with what’s been done at various marinas in Victoria and NSW particularly the St George Motor Boat Club in Sydney (pictured).
Plans to build a $5 million, 173 berth marina in front of the Mulwala Water Ski Club have progressed well in recent months.
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The club will embark on an environmental impact study and then engage various government authorities for their approval.
“We have completed our business case study with Urban Enterprise and more recently have had some encouraging talks with local MP Justin Clancy (NSW Member for Albury) and Sussan Ley (Federal Member for Farrer),” club CEO Peter Duncan told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“Justin Clancy has assisted us to engage with the NSW Government planning via the streamlined secretary’s environmental assessment requirements (SEARs).
“This will bring all decision-making stakeholders to the table,” Mr Duncan said.
SEARs improve the clarity, consistency, and certainty of assessment requirements.
They also require applicants to engage with councils, the local community and key agencies while preparing their Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), consistent with the NSW Government planning department’s community participation objectives.
A concept drawing of the first stage of the proposed marina out the front of the Mulwala Water Ski Club.
The proposed location for the marina on Lake Mulwala is jointly managed by Goulburn Murray Water and Water NSW on behalf of the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA).
Management of Lake Mulwala is highly complex and involves multiple land managers, two councils and the NSW state government. The site of the proposed marina is currently owned by the Water Administration Ministerial Council (WAMC), however, it is in the process of being transferred to Water NSW.
Mr Duncan said the club board have been impressed with what’s been done at various marinas in Victoria and NSW.
Mulwala Water Ski Club management have undertaken substantial research on the big project - inspecting all the marinas from Sandringham, Brighton, Mildura and a particularly in-depth look at St George Motor Boat Club in Sydney
“We have been talking with various clubs and marina owners to help establish our business case,” Mr Duncan said.
“We received a government grant of $52,000 to have the business case done for the first stage of the marina featuring 64 berths.”
The first stage is estimated to costing $2.5 million. Subsequent Stages (2 and 3) are estimated to cost a further $2.5 million and will have 209 additional berths with a secondary walkway.“We really think there is a need for a marina in our growing community, and at our ski club we’re a boating hub,” Mr Duncan said.
To be located close to the ski club’s lagoon area, the marina would be gate-secured, designed for various boats including the most popular ski boats and pontoons, with concrete separations/paths.
“Currently, we don’t have the facilities for boating enthusiasts,” Mr Duncan said.
“You hear of boat owners leaving their boats overnight elsewhere on the lake and subject to the weather elements, being overturned, etcetera. We’ll have all the facilities, and they will be secure.
“There is a lot of money tied up in boats these days and with our unpredictable northerly winds it can be not only dangerous for boating enthusiasts but very expensive if they don’t have a safe mooring area like a marina.
“The marina we have proposed stretches along in front of our holiday park and is already in a designated slow boating zone, so, it will not impact recreational activities such as skiing it will only complement it providing Yarrawonga Mulwala with another valuable asset to attract new and existing visitors.”
Mulwala Water Ski Club President Matt Holgate said the club’s vision is “to be the consolidated hub for locals and tourist to enjoy all that Lake Mulwala has to offer”.
“Echuca has a world renowned Port, which is the consolidated hub for tourist activity, for both Echuca and Moama’s river based activities,” Mr Holgat said.
“The jewel in the crown of Yarrawonga and Mulwala’s tourist attraction is Lake Mulwala.
“We currently offer car and boat parking, boat launching, docking for the Cumbaroona, water front alfresco dining and coffee shop, children’s playground and all abilities access to the club and waterfront facilities.
“A marina would further enhance the visitor experience,” Mr Holgate said.
At present, there is a lack of infrastructure on Lake Mulwala to support access to water-based activities.
There are many pontoon boats parked at the Yarrawonga Yacht Club needing somewhere to moor. There was the occasion earlier last year when the Paradise Queen washed up onto the foreshore.
By providing targeted infrastructure that can improve ease of water access, the project outcomes will look to increase visitation and visitor spend and, in turn, increase local employment opportunities.
Daily, weekly and monthly fees would apply with respect to the moorings, and there would be moorings for casual users. The marina would create boat maintenance, storage and other opportunities in the boating industry.
The club’s marina project business case was proudly funded by the NSW Government.
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