The Port Authority announced this week the Safe Harbour Project would be included in a combination of three major projects for the Port of Eden, coined "The Revitalising Eden Harbour Program".

The program will also include the Eden Welcome Centre and the Eden Harbourside Activation Project.

Port Authority CEO Phillip Holliday said bringing the projects together would help the Port of Eden develop critical infrastructure that will benefit the community, visitors and local economy.

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However, details on just how the project would come to fruition were scant.

"Coordinating these projects will ensure they develop in a whole-of-port approach; complimenting each other and recent developments such as the Eden Cruise Wharf and supporting the port's future," Mr Holliday said.

Port of Eden Marina group secretary Robert Bain blamed government agencies for inaction on the Safe Harbour Project, stating the site and design for the proposed wave attenuator were agreed upon by POEM and government agencies in mid-2018 but that seemingly nothing had happened since.

Construction was initially scheduled to begin in early 2019.

"The problem appears to be the cost of the wave attenuator and the inexplicable determination of the government departments not to go out for competitive tenders," Dr Bain said.

Plans for the Safe Harbour Project were interrupted when Waterway Constructions, the planned contractor for the attenuator, announced it would cease operations by October 2019.

Dr Bain questioned why the project never went to competitive tender in the first place.

"Rather than go to competitive tender the project was given to Waterway Construction. Waterway put in a very high bid and then decided to close their Eden operation. Since then the project appears stalled."

A spokesperson for the NSW Port Authority said the NSW government has allocated $19million for the Eden Safe Harbour Project.

"The scope for additional design work is currently being prepared, with further design definition expected in the new year and completed in 2020. The final design will inform the basis of a construction tender," they said.

The "whole-of-port" approach will also explore options for the redevelopment of the Discovery Centre building site.

Redevelopment of the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre

The "whole-of-port" approach will also explore options for the redevelopment of the Discovery Centre building site.

A spokesperson for the NSW Port Authority said the Harbourside Activation Project will explore options for the redevelopment of the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre building site.

"Modifications to this mixed-use zoned site have the potential to provide retail activation, commercial use, residential accommodation and recreational marine activities to better support the foreshore and harbour precinct," they said adding that options will be developed in early 2020 with more information and timelines to be released as the program progresses.

"Until options are developed, the costing of any potential redevelopment of the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre building site cannot be determined, " the spokesperson said.

Eden Welcome Centre plans to open to public

As part of the NSW Port Authority's announcement, plans and designs for the Eden Welcome Centre will be shared with the public this Thursday, December 19.

The welcome centre is anticipated to open for the 2020/21 cruise season.

"As Eden becomes an increasingly popular cruise destination, the Eden Welcome Centre will be a new facility to greet up to 100,000 visiting cruise passengers each year," Port Authority CEO Phillip Holliday said.

"The centre will provide visitors with amenities, local information and access to Cruise Eden's welcome ambassadors."

Plans and designs for the Eden Welcome Centre will be shared with the community across two info sessions at the Fishermen's Club.

Thursday's session will run from 4-7pm, while the second session will be held on January 22, 10am until 1pm.