Olympic Legacy Marina to be shared

by NSW Ports and Waterways on 15 Apr 2008 The 2000 Olympics left a infrastructure legacy for sport in Sydney with everything from the 80,000-seat Homebush stadium, a rowing course and a very popular kayak and canoeing facility at Penrith. .

However sailing missed out with Darling Point residents preventing the 200 berth floating Olympic Marina staying in Rushcutters Bay. It was dismantled and sold to a buyer in Tasmania.

Now an agreement to share the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Legacy Marina will give access to recreational water facilities and make great use of an important harbour site, Minister for Ports and Waterways Joe Tripodi said

Under the agreement the NSW Maritime-owned marina in Rushcutters Bay will be shared by Sailability NSW and the Royal Australian Naval Sailing Association (RANSA) to advance community access to the sport of sailing, particularly among the disabled.

Sailability NSW promotes on-water activity for the disabled and RANSA promotes sailing and the art of seamanship in the Royal Australian Navy.

'NSW Maritime has also given a commitment to undertake $60,000 in repair works on the marina, which will take place over the next couple of months to ensure the two groups have the best access to the facility,' Mr Tripodi said. 'I congratulate both organizations on agreeing to a shared arrangement, providing benefits to disabled sailors whilst retaining access for RANSA.'

The Legacy Marina was built in 1998 and named by the NSW Government as a legacy to the sport of sailing following the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. It comprises 10 floating pontoon berths and a hard stand capable of storing 22 boats. The hard stand is serviced by two of the largest cranes of their type on Sydney Harbour.

Both RANSA and Sailability welcomed the commitment of NSW Maritime to restore the marina and hard stand. 'We look forward to establishing a world-class facility for disabled sailors at the site,' Sailability NSW President Grahame Rayner said. 'The facility was specifically designed for sailors with disabilities; it will be good to see the site used more fully – for the benefit of both RANSA and Sailability.'

'Guaranteed access to the marina enables RANSA to plan for the future,' RANSA Commodore Adrian Gruzman said..