Shoalhaven Acting Mayor Peter Wilkins is calling on the NSW Government to urgently commit funding and provide a clear timeframe for the replacement of Greenwell Point Wharf following an engineering assessment that found the structure has reached the end of its serviceable life.
The assessment identified significant structural deterioration and recommended the wharf be restricted to pedestrian access only to ensure public safety. The report found extensive concrete corrosion and a substantial reduction in the wharf’s load-bearing and mooring capacity.
Cr Wilkins said the findings confirmed what many in the community had feared and highlighted the need for immediate State Government intervention.
“Greenwell Point Wharf is a vital piece of infrastructure that supports our fishing heritage, local businesses, commercial operators, recreational users and visitors to the region,” Cr Wilkins said.
“This is not simply a local issue. Greenwell Point Wharf is a state-owned asset, and the NSW Government now has a responsibility to provide certainty to our community about its future,” he said.
“As Minister for Lands and Property, The Hon. Steve Kamper has a key role in overseeing Crown land assets, and we’re calling on him to urgently commit funding and announce a clear timetable for the replacement of this important piece of public infrastructure.”
Council currently manages the wharf on behalf of NSW Government Crown Lands and has worked closely with Transport for NSW and state agencies to address safety concerns.
Cr Wilkins said replacing the wharf was beyond the financial capacity of Council and required a genuine funding commitment from the NSW Government.
“Council’s priority is delivering essential services, renewing local roads and community infrastructure, and ensuring responsible financial management on behalf of our ratepayers,” he said.
“Good governance means making responsible decisions about where limited Council resources are invested. A replacement wharf is a significant piece of maritime infrastructure that requires State Government support.”
Cr Wilkins said a replacement wharf would support local employment, strengthen tourism opportunities, maintain access to the waterway and preserve a significant community asset for future generations.
“We are ready to work collaboratively with Minister Kamper, the NSW Government and local stakeholders to deliver a long-term solution, but the State Government must now step forward and lead the funding response.”
“Local residents, commercial operators and visitors deserve certainty that this important community asset will continue to serve the Shoalhaven for generations to come,” he said.
The wharf is currently restricted to pedestrian access only, with mooring to independent piers possible alongside the wharf for two leaseholders.
Constructed in the late 1970s, the wharf has been exposed to the harsh coastal environment for decades and is nearing the 50-year lifespan, common for maritime infrastructure. According to the report, if the wharf is restricted to pedestrian access it can safely be used for approximately three to four years.
