Port Macquarie-Hastings Council adopted a concept plan for the redevelopment of the foreshore area adjacent to Kooloonbung Harbour in April.

Operations at the former fishermen’s co-op have officially ceased and, after an extensive clean-up, chairman Paul Hyde last week ‘handed the keys to the building to the Department of Primary Industries’.

The Hastings Regional Crown Reserve Plan of Management was developed with the department and included a public exhibition period.

The adopted concept is aligned with the principles of the Plan of Management for the foreshore and the Town Centre Master Plan, said council director Jeffery Sharp.

“Regular meetings have been established between council staff and DPI - Lands representatives to help progress this project from the concept phase,” he said.

“Plan implementation will be subject to detailed design, relevant approval processes, and provision of funding.”

Once the co-op building is demolished, and under the plan and pending funding, the site will see the development of a new cafe, information centre, manager’s office and public toilets with a sheltered outdoor kiosk dining area.

Other attractions to the general area include, provision for new moorings for large commercial vessels with L shaped loading wharf for commercial uses, water police and customs.

And in some good news for regular users of the area, the plan includes new, raised walkway extending over the water’s edge to a minimum of five metres wide.

Chunky timber wharf seating will feature throughout the area and into Town Green, picnic shelters and sculptural entry markers including a retaining wall with strong vertical elements

A spokesman said the Department of Primary Industries - Lands is managing the demolition and expects to complete this within the next several months.

“The demolition of the co-op has been planned for many years. DPI – Lands has agreed to assist the co-op by sharing the cost of demolition,” the spokesperson said.

“The site’s future uses are being considered by council under the Hastings Regional Crown Reserve Plan of Management.”