PLANS for the $1 million expansion of the Soldiers Point Marina are back on exhibition after additional information regarding environmental and navigational concerns was provided to Port Stephens Council.
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But the new information has done little to appease those in the community who are worried about the project.
The development proposal to expand the marina by 58 berths and introduce additional off-site parking was originally lodged with the council more than a year ago but had not been assessed due to insufficient information.
As part of the new information, the applicant has addressed issues about the environment as well as navigational safety worries relating to the shortening of the channel and the berths' proximity to nearby oyster racks.
These reports state there will be little impact on the environment and that the channel width would be increased by 10 metres to allow more room for navigation between the oyster racks the the marina's infrastructure.
It states navigational visibility would be improved with the relocation of 14 swing moorings adjacent to the site.
But president of the Soldiers Point Community Group (SPCG), Colin Howard said the community was not satisfied with the findings and had its own experts working on submissions to refute the claims.
"If we double the number of potential pollutants . . . there is some theory of concern," he said.
"The precautionary principle states you are suppose to err on the side of caution . . . first do no harm."
Mr Howard said when the plans were previously on exhibition "well over 500 people" wrote to the council against the submission.
He anticipated a similar reaction this time around and called on the council to increase the month-long exhibition period by four weeks to allow the community adequate time to respond.
The group will also be hosting a public meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, March 27 at Soldiers Point Bowling Club to discuss the issue.
Soldiers Point Marina was contacted for comment but declined.
Port Stephens Council will provide its own assessment of the application and submit it to the Joint Regional Planning Panel - the overarching consent authority.