A new $2.8 million wharf has brought Belmont's lake access back online and into the modern age.
Replacing the previous 50-year-old jetty, the revamped Belmont Wharf is longer, stronger and better equipped to weather the elements.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz was joined by Minister for the Hunter and Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley to officially open the wharf this morning.
"Enjoying the lake is a pivotal part of life in Lake Macquarie, so it's critical we continue to deliver modern, accessible infrastructure that makes it easy for our community to get on and around the water and do what they love," he said.
"This new wharf will serve the community for many years to come, offering a purpose-built place to access activities on the lake and take in the spectacular scenery."
The new structure is 71m long and 2.4m wide, broadening to 8m at the jetty landing, and features driven tubular steel piles, precast reinforced concrete headstocks, fibre-reinforced panel decking and marine-grade stainless steel fixings.
It also includes a new pump-out station for marine waste management, fenders to protect vessels mooring temporarily and a concrete abutment that connects to the existing pathway.
Ms Catley said the $1.4 million State Government investment through the Boating Infrastructure for Communities Program was about ensuring the community had access to the infrastructure it needed and deserved.
"Lake Macquarie is made for days on the water and now Belmont Street has a wharf to match," she said.
"We have more than 20,000 boats registered locally, meaning this is infrastructure our communities use every day. Just as importantly, the new pump-out facility will help boaties do the right thing and keep our magnificent lake clean.
"The old timber wharf served boaties well for around half a century. This replacement is bigger, better, stronger and safer."
The project cost $2.8 million in total, with construction of the wharf coming in at $2 million.
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