FAQs

The Harbour Management Plan provides policies and procedures for the effective and sustainable management of the Anchorage Island canal and foreshore facilities. It addresses various issues including navigation, infrastructure maintenance, safety, environmental protection, and administration of vessel berths.

The Harbour Management Plan will help to coordinate various activities, clarify roles and responsibilities, prevent conflicts, and minimises the risk of safety or environmental impacts.

Tweed Shire Council Anchorage Harbour Management objectives:

Council is responsible for the management of the harbour and maintenance of public facilities found within it. These facilities include:

• Rock retaining walls
• Walking paths
• Boardwalks
• Observation decks
• Canals
• Beaches (and coconut palms)
• Moorings and anchor blocks
• Jetties and mooring piles

• Private Pontoon (Private Access) - berths on a private pontoon, with access from private land.
• Private Pontoon (Public Access) - berths on a private pontoon with access provided via public structures (boardwalk/walkway and revetment).
•  Mooring – moorings provided and maintained by Council, with access provided via private tender vessel.
• Jetty – berths on a jetty provided and maintained by Council, with access via public structures (boardwalk).

The total estimated cost of managing facilities within the Anchorage Harbour has been used calculate fees for licences. However because berth holders are not the only users of this area, they will not bear the total cost of asset maintenance. In some cases, for example boardwalks, facilities provide access for the general public, as well as the attachment point and access to private pontoons.  A ratio of public versus private benefit of Council investment in facility maintenance is the basis for setting fees for vessel berths.  Council is seeking to recover approximately 30% of the total estimated costs of managing the harbour from fees charged to vessel berth license holders.

A comparison of the proposed Council fee with other local options shows that prices are lower than that presently available at commercial facilities, except in the case of swing moorings.  

 A significant difference between Anchorage Harbour and a commercial marina is that in the Anchorage Harbour, pontoons (not jetties and moorings) are privately owned.  The cost of a private pontoon license in the Anchorage Harbour exceeds that of a standard residential canal.  

 While the proposed costs of Anchorage Harbour swing moorings are higher than in the Tweed River (administered by NSW Maritime), Council is responsible for the annual cost of inspecting and certifying these mooring chains, anchor blocks and connections. This is the responsibility of mooring licence holders using NSW Marine moorings.  Moorings in the Anchorage Harbour are also considerably more sheltered, have greater passive surveillance, and therefore offer greater vessel security than moorings in Terranora Creek and the Tweed River.

Council will licence and charge fees for private facilities situated within the harbour (pontoons), and private use of public facilities (swing moorings and jetty berths). Revenue raised from fees will go toward maintaining, and over the longer term, replacing, the facilities provided in the area. All fees raised through licensing of facilities will be reserved for use in the area.

If a cost recovery model is not adopted, Tweed rate payers will end up subsidising Councils long term maintenance and replacement of vessel berths and associated facilities in the Anchorage Harbour, to the private benefit of berth licence holders.  

You can find a summary of Fees and Charges here and a Detailed Fees and Charges document here.

Please contact Council on 02 6670 2400 or tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au if you would like an sample license specific to your license type emailed to you.