Ferry lease details considered

Gosford Council is expected to finalise the leasing arrangement for the fast ferry terminal at Ettalong at its meeting tonight, October 24.

Two allotments of crown land are to be leased to Fast Ships Pty Ltd, under an arrangement terminating on 22 August 2048.

One allotment covers the water for the water-based part of the facility. The other allotment covers the land-based part of the facility in the existing waterfront reserve.

Following feedback from the Department of Land and Water Conservation, it is now proposed that council purchase reserve land from the department for $100,000 as "operational land" and lease it to Fast Ships for the land-based component of the facility.

Council currently leases the water-based allotment and would sub-let it to Fast Ships.

Under the proposal, council would also acquire part of the reserve required for road-widening at no cost.

The costs of road-widening as well as the infrastructure are to be met by the licensee.

All infrastructure would become the property of the council at the end of the lease period.

An annual rental fee for both lots will be set at 25 per cent more than council's costs, an expected initial annual figure of more than $16,000.

The acquisition costs are to be reimbursed from rent so that there is no financial impact on the council.

Performance-based milestones have been set by council to ensure that the construction of the facility occurs within an agreed time period.

The agreement would provide that the ferry operations commence within 18 months of the granting of development consent for the terminal building or 12 months after the issue of a construction certificate, whichever is the later date.

Fast Ships has asked for a longer period.

A development proposal for the terminal has been on public exhibition for the past month.

It consists of an application, site plan and statement of environmental effects. It provides for a ferry terminal building and transport interchange to be constructed on reserve no. 82759 adjacent to the Bangalow Street intersection with The Esplanade at Ettalong Beach.

With the close of the exhibition period, council is expected to consider the application in November.

Fast Ships has indicated that its financing and construction schedule would be finalised after it had received approval from the council.

Cec Bucello, October 20