Coffs Harbour Marine Precinct Project

Construction of the Maritime Operation Centre is progressing well, with Maritime and other government safety personnel expected to be moving into the building upon its completion in June/July 2023.

We will soon start construction on the Vessel Refuelling Facility, with works beginning around June-July 2023. The boat maintenance area is already in operation, and we expect the entire precinct to be completed in summer this year (weather permitting).

GC Boatyards (the operator of the Boat Maintenance Facility) will be operating the new fuel facility as well, and can be contacted regarding services, opening hours, costs and any other queries through their website or by phone on 02 6516 2209.

The vessel refuelling facility will enable the public, commercial and government agency vessels to fuel their boats with unleaded petrol. The completed Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is available to view or download (PDF, 25.7Mb)

We will begin working on the Transport Maritime Operation Centre from early September 2022. The works are expected to be completed by mid-2023.

Please view the Transport’s Maritime Operation Centre section for further information.

Improvements to the Coffs Harbour Marine Precinct will include

• Construction of a new boat maintenance facility, including a 75-tonne travel lift
• Refurbishment of the existing buildings and improvements to external areas
• Installation of a 10,000L unleaded petrol, vessel accessible refuelling facility for public and government agency use
• Expansion of the government agency marina.

The project will ensure government marine agencies have up-to-date infrastructure located in close proximity to the harbour in order to provide timely safety and marine related services.

The project will also provide modern vessel maintenance and refuelling facilities for use by public, commercial and marine agencies. 

Boat maintenance facility

This project will see the reconstruction of the existing boat maintenance facility and will provide a 75-tonne travel lift located at the former slipway.

The new maintenance facility will meet current EPA standards by allowing vessels to be lifted out and maintained in an environmentally controlled area, eliminating risk of contaminants entering the waterway.

The new facility will also improve safety and efficiency in the servicing of commercial and recreational vessels by reducing the need for heavy equipment and increasing the size of vessels to be moved.

Specific details of the project include:

• removing existing structures and unused services
• excavation and backfilling with engineered fill to accommodate the loadings of the travel lift
• regrading the level of the site and constructing a new concrete hardstand and services
• designing and constructing a holding pontoon, gangway and associated services
• constructing the travel lift jetty support structures, consisting of concrete beams on piles
• upgrading services including fire hydrants and hose reels, electrical, lighting and main distribution board, hydraulic, communication, trade waste system and storage containers.

Construction of the hardstand area and associated travel lift structures is now complete, with the travel lift due to be installed and commissioned in mid-2022.

Vessel refuelling facility

Transport for NSW has identified an opportunity to further improve facilities available at the Coffs Harbour Marine Precinct.

As part of the upgrade to facilities, subject to approvals, we will install a Vessel Refuelling Facility which will give boaters the ability to fuel up their boats with unleaded petrol.

The Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is now ready and is available to view. If you have any comments or questions, please get in touch using the contact details below.

The expansion of the government agency marina will add five additional berths and two pens for Transport Maritime, Marine Area Command and Department of Primary Industries Fisheries, bringing the total number of berths to nine. The new facility will allow each agency to improve response times, which is critical for maritime rescue and safety work.

The proposed government marina upgrade work includes:

• dredging the area to accommodate additional berths
• removing ground and surface water from the existing hardstand
• removing the existing pontoon berths including piles
• removing two fixed ‘catwalk’ jetties and piles
• installation of new pontoons, gangway and services
• upgrading electrical and hydraulic services to the new facilities.

These works were completed in February 2022 with the government marina now in operation.

This project will see the upgrading of the existing government agency buildings and surrounding areas to bring up to current standards, improve the functionality and capability of the facilities, and improve the overall look and aesthetic.

Specific details of the project include:

• complete refurbishment of the existing office building including the addition of an operations command facility to support emergency and pollution response and recovery in the region
• installation of a covered storage area for essential pollution response equipment
• upgrades to parking and pedestrian access to current standards
• landscaping and wayfinding improvements
• improvements to the external façades of the existing Marine Area Command and Department of Primary Industries Fisheries buildings.

We will begin working on the Maritime Operation Centre from early September 2022. Our work hours will be between 7am and 6pm from Mondays to Fridays and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. There will be no work on Sundays or on public holidays. All works will be conducted within these hours unless otherwise approved.

There will be a change to the current parking arrangements that exist adjacent to the Fisheries and Marine Area Command buildings. Informal parking areas will no longer be accessible due to the establishment of the site compound and traffic management measures. Parking to the west of the Marine Area Command building will be limited to agency vehicles. Please refer to the map above for information on impacts to agency vehicle parking and access.

• When will the project be complete?
  All aspects of the Coffs Harbour Marine Precinct project are expected to be completed by mid-2023.

• When will the travel lift be open?
  The travel lift has been operational since early October 2022.

• When will the vessel refuelling facility be open?
  The vessel refuelling facility is expected to open mid-2023.

• Who is the operator of the travel lift and how can I get in contact?
  The operator of the facility is GC Marine. GC Marine may be contacted via phone on 02 6516 2209 or via the contact form at www.gcboatyards.com.au.

• How can I lift my boat out of the water now?
  Please contact the operator of the travel lift to book in boat lifting. GC Marine may be contacted via phone on 02 6516 2209 or via the contact form at www.gcboatyards.com.au.

• Will I need to pay to use the facilities?
  Yes. Rates are set by the operator, GC Marine. GC Marine may be contacted via phone on 02 6516 2209 or via the contact form at www.gcboatyards.com.au.

• What are the maximum boat dimensions and weight the travel lift can lift?
  The travel lift will be able to support a vessel that weighs 75 tonnes. Maximum dimensions include a beam of 8m and an overall length (LOA) of 25m.

• Can I do work on my boat on the maintenance stand?
  Please refer to the operator’s website to learn more about their services provided. GC Marine may be contacted via phone on 02 6516 2209 or via the contact form at www.gcboatyards.com.au.

• Why are we upgrading the existing marine precinct government offices?
  The project will ensure government marine agencies have up-to-date infrastructure located in close proximity to the harbour in order to provide timely safety and marine related services.

• What will the parking arrangements after the project is completed?
  There will be a change to the current informal parking arrangements at the Coffs Harbour Marine Precinct. The project will formalise dedicated parking spaces for marine agency operational vehicles to allow 24/7 access for emergency response and services. These parking spaces will be clearly signed posted and line marked to identify them as operational vehicles only. The project scope does not include additional parking for the community, nor private vehicle parking for government staff.

• Will there be an upgrade to the Coffs Harbour boat ramp?
  Yes, please refer to the Coffs Harbour boat ramp page for further information and the latest project news.

• Review of Environmental Factors - Vessel Refuelling Facility - September 2022 (PDF, 25.72 MB)
• Travel lift fact sheet (PDF, 96.27 KB)
• Review of Environmental Factors - December 2020 (PDF, 20 MB)
• REF Approval Notice Coffs Harbour Boat Maintenance and Storage Facility upgrade - October 2018 (PDF, 125.34 KB)