The operators of an oyster farm in Woolooware Bay want to open a cafe, but are being delayed by state government bureaucrats.
Create a free account to read this article
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wetland Oysters’ plan is seen as a potential great tourist attraction for Sutherland Shire, in line with the draft Sydney South District Plan.
But, a long-term lease promised 17 years ago for the oyster farm, one of only two in the area that survived the QX disease, is yet to be delivered.
Maritime Minister Duncan Gay gave an assurance two weeks before Christmas “future tenure arrangements” would be discussed in February.
John Hedison and David Barker are partners in the business, which is located east of Sharkies Club and accessed from Captain Cook Drive.
Mr Barker, a marine biologist and environmental scientist, was formerly aquarium manager at Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre.
Mr Hedison said Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), which had responsibility for oyster leases, was “treating us like rubbish”.
"We are beginning to think they must have some hidden agenda in stalling us,” he said.
"They are certainly not trying to help us."
Mr Hedison said the latest reason they had been given for the delay was that RMS was conducting further site inspections.
“We are on a one month lease, but other oyster farms in NSW have 25-year leases, and that’s what we are seeking,” he said.
“Once we have a long-term lease, we can go to the council and put in some plans for a cafe.
“We would also like to have an education centre, where school children and other people can learn about the oyster industry that used to exist in this area.”
Mr Hedison said there were once many oyster farms in, and near the mouth of, Georges River, but most were destroyed by the QX disease in the 1990s.
He said supporters of the cafe plan included former Sharks star and fishing identity Andrew Ettingshausen and Cronulla MP Mark Speakman.
“We have also spoken to some people at the Sharks, who use a lot of product in their raffles, and they are interested in the idea,” he said.
Mr Speakman, who has made representations over the protracted delay, said, “A local oyster cafe would be a terrific drawcard for tourism”.
“Subject to future lease arrangements, I would be delighted to see John progress this initiative,” he said.
An RMS spokesman said present tenure arrangements were on a month to month basis.
“Roads and Maritime Services plans to meet with the two, tenant-at will, oyster farmers in early 2017 to discuss their tenure arrangements,” he said.
