Category: News

September 1, 2015

New Year’s Eve 2015

Once again, Cockatoo Island will be one of THE destinations on Sydney Harbour to welcome in the new year. It’s a relaxing, fun event, perfect for catching up with friends and family, without the hassles and restrictions of other waterfront viewing spots. With the Harbour Bridge in sight and a fireworks barge moored just off the island, the views of the crackers are fantastic.

Most people camp or stay in the other accommodation on the Island (contact the Harbour Trust for details), and for a few lucky boat owners there are a limited number of berths available in Camber Wharf Marina. These are filling up fast though, with just three spaces left for boats upto 29′ so get your bookings in soon!

We can also accommodate larger vessels and are currently managing a wait-list for boats over 30′. Please contact us for more information.

Special event rates apply with details found here. Why not make a holiday of it and take advantage of our three-night special?

Cockatoo Boat Storage customers receive a 33% discount off the NYE stay rates.

August 3, 2015

Underbelly Arts 2015

What a blast! And better still we survived! With humour and friendships intact. A massive effort from everyone involved: in particular our wonderful Marina Café staff, the Underbelly organisers & crew, the amazing artists and the Harbour Trust’s ground team on Cockatoo Island. Well done to everyone.

This time around the art was even bigger and bolder. From James Capper’s ‘Hydra Step and Hydra Shuffle’ – massive, articulated, mobile industrial machines, carefully moving over their landscape – to the ‘Cowboy Cha Cha’ dancers of the Bowling Club Medley, there was something for everyone. People who thought they’d drop in for an hour, stayed all day, and many came back the next. There was such a buzz of appreciation and enjoyment from everyone we spoke to.

And in all this, we feel particularly proud of our Marina Café crew. It was hot, it was busy, and the days were long. We kept the food and drink coming from early morning coffees to late night pizzas. Great organisation, great delivery – and great tasting food! Thanks guys – you’re the best.

July 30, 2015

2015 Sydney International Boat Show

Today sees the start of the 2015 Sydney International Boat Show, a must-do in the calendar for anyone with a recreational or professional interest in boats! It is the largest recreational marine event in the Southern Hemisphere and plays host to thousands each year. For the second year, while the new Exhibition Centre is developed at Darling Harbour, the Boat Show is split over two locations: in-water boats on display at Darling Harbour, and exhibitor stands with trailer boats and much more in the Exhibition Halls at Glebe Island. A free ferry runs between the two locations

This year sees the launch of Cockatoo Boat Storage, a part of Cockatoo Island Marine Centre who have exhibited at the Show since the company’s formation in 2013. Cockatoo Boat Storage is Sydney’s best value boat storage facility providing customers with a range of storage options (wet and dry, short and long term) and able to cater for vessels up to 70m. Come and visit us on Stand 369! The Boat Show runs from Thursday 30 July to Monday 3 August.

May 31, 2015

Marina Development on Cockatoo Island

COMPANY STATEMENT

ESCAPE BOATING PTY LTD LODGES DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION

On 26 May 2015, Escape Boating Pty Ltd, trading as Cockatoo Island Marine Centre, lodged an application with the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust to develop dry boat storage, marina berthing, and maintenance services on the south-western corner of the Southern Apron of Cockatoo Island.

Approval to bring forward this application follows a public Expression of Interest conducted by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust in March 2012. Escape Boating Pty Ltd in May 2012 was chosen as the preferred applicant in June 2012.

The proposal comprises the construction of dry boat storage for up to 123 boats, and marina berthing for up to 32 boats in Sutherland Dock and on the outer wharf of the Southern Apron. Boats dry stored would be placed in two tier open racks, sitting lower than the existing buildings and structures on the Southern Apron.

Escape Boating is a small business, owned and operated by an Australian couple. They currently employ eight people. The business seeks to provide services to visitors to Cockatoo Island as well as Sydney boat owners. The concept for this proposal was developed after observing the shortage of boat storage facilities and growing issues in suburban streets across Sydney. There is a well-documented need for additional boat storage on Sydney Harbour. In 2013, The Transport for NSW Maritime Management Centre released their Sydney Harbour Boat Storage Strategy. The report identified a shortfall of 1,000 drystack spaces and 600 marina berths.

The proposed development is on a leased area of concrete hardstand. No land will be purchased and no buildings will be demolished. All structures are non-permanent. The proposed mooring systems for pontoons in Sutherland Dock are designed to carefully preserve the dock walls ensuring no permanent modification and the ability to return it to original purposes at the end of the lease.

The development application includes a detailed report prepared by independent consultants outlining the heritage impact of the proposal. The conclusion of the report is that the proposed development would have no impact on the World Heritage values of Cockatoo Island and only very minor (and acceptable) impact on the National and Commonwealth heritage values of Cockatoo Island and Sutherland Dock.

The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust expects to make its decision on the application in July 2015 following a 28 day consultation period.

The development application can be found at www.harbourtrust.gov.au and the Harbour Trust can be contacted on +61 2 8969 2100.

For more information, please contact

Philip McGrath
Director, Escape Boating Pty Ltd
Ph +61 424042833