A $22-million makeover for Sydney Superyacht Marina in Australia is finally proceeding, following years of delays.
The marina opened for the Summer Olympics in 2000, purposely built to accommodate 24 megayachts to 230 feet (70 meters). At that time, the name was Rozelle Bay Superyacht Marina. (The name came from the body of water upon which it’s situated.) A company called Sydney Superyacht Marina Pty took over the site in 2009. It identified a number of upgrades needed to bring the facility in line with other megayacht marinas worldwide.
The road from that point to now, though, has been rocky. In 2011, Sydney Superyacht Marina Pty put forth a renovation plan to add service and repair sheds, offices, restaurants, shops, and crew’s quarters. A public waterfront promenade for pedestrians and cyclists plus two parking decks were also in the mix. All together, the projected cost of the renovations was AUS$25 million, about US$25.3 million at the time. The state government had already approved redeveloping the existing slips and upgrading the pontoons. So, it seemed that the full proposal would go through.
It was not to be. In 2013, we reported how the Sydney Superyacht Marina plans were causing controversy. Among the concerns were noise pollution and traffic. So, too, was the fact that it’s on public land and was initially a temporary facility. City council members wanted redevelopment—among all redevelopment in the area—paused until broader, better uses overall for the waterfront were finalized.
The redevelopment team and the Sydney Superyacht Marina managers went back to the drawing boards. They amended the renovation plans in a few ways. One change allows reconfiguring the pontoons. This will permit smaller boats to use the marina, too, whether they are tenders or people’s primary recreational craft. The parking garage is gaining a level. Outdoor space devoted to the marina, such as benches, is also increasing. The restaurants are further getting more outdoor space.
Sydney Superyacht Marina will still many of the original concepts. These include the maintenance sheds mentioned above. And, it will still accommodate megayachts to the initially conceived LOAs.
Total cost for redeveloping Sydney Superyacht Marina: US$22 million (AUS$30 million).
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