The first stage of the $440 million Wyndham Harbour Marina will open to the public this summer.
Construction of the marina is in full swing, with pylons in place and pontoons to be installed over the next six weeks. When completed, Wyndham Harbour will have a marina that floats on the tide.
Marina manager Karen Wyatt says stage one will provide 150 wet berths at the southern base, a new beach, which is yet to be named, and bayside walking trails that will link the development back to Werribee, as well as car parking.
Ms Wyatt says the marina will be open to the public this summer, possibly around Australia Day.
“[We’re expecting] people will come over from the Mornington Peninsula and other areas for the weekend and … we can get them into the local attractions. It will be a destination on the other side of the bay,” she said.
“We’ve sold about 55 berths on 99 new leases, and the rest will range from overnight rentals right through to a 20-year lease. Once that’s fairly full, which I’m hoping will happen in the first year to 18 months, we will open the next stage.”
The residential and marina development will be the only marina between Williamstown and Geelong, and will eventually have 1000 berths and storage for up to 390 boats.
It will be the largest marina in Victoria, opening up parts of Port Phillip Bay never before accessible to swimmers and boating enthusiasts. It will also be the new home of the Werribee South Coast Guard.
The site was first proposed by the state government in 1983. Developers secured the land in 2003.