Northern Beaches Angler The Future of Northern Beaches Fishing
Related Articles
If you’ve ever walked the Fairlight track, kayaked through North Harbour, or enjoyed a quiet swim in the bay, you know what a unique and treasured corner of Sydney this is. But right now, a development proposal is quietly moving through council that could change all of that—and most of us haven’t even been informed.
Development Application DA2024/1216 includes plans for a major overhaul of the North Harbour Marina. Buried within the proposal are “optional berths” for two super yachts—one 32 metres long, the other 25 metres. For context, a Manly JetCat is 35 metres. These are massive vessels, likely diesel-powered and weighing over 120 tonnes each. They’re not just boats—they’re floating apartment blocks.
Only a small handful of residents—primarily those near Gourlay Avenue and the Yacht Club—have been notified. The rest of us in Balgowlah, Fairlight, and Seaforth, who walk the foreshore and live above the bay, are likely unaware of the scale and impact this could have.
Environmental and Visual Concerns
Super yachts of this size running generators 24/7 in summer will add constant noise and air pollution. Visually, they will dominate the bay, altering the character of this peaceful cove. These vessels could easily stand four stories high and dwarf existing boats in the marina.
Even today, residents frequently report the smell of petrol around the marina. On multiple occasions, there has been sanding and prepping of boat hulls with no visible containment, releasing fine dust and debris into the air and water. If a car repair shop must comply with environmental standards for waste and dust, why is a marina—on the edge of a marine reserve—apparently not held to the same expectations?
North Harbour is also home to diverse marine life, including endangered Little Penguins that nest nearby. Increased pollution, underwater noise, and disturbance from larger vessels could have irreversible consequences for local wildlife.
Safety and Community Access Risks
North Harbour is used daily by swimmers, paddlers, and small boats. The introduction of super yachts—and the creation of a new navigation channel by removing 12 existing moorings—poses serious safety risks. These types of vessels are not designed to share tight waters with kayaks, paddle boards, and children learning to swim.
This change also reduces access for everyday boat owners and increases congestion in what has historically been a welcoming and recreational bay.
Who’s Behind the Proposal?
The developer behind the North Harbour Marina upgrade is Addenbrooke, a private property development company founded by Denis “Ned” O’Neil. The local newspaper made it seem like the owner is a single person owner. This is not a small local operator. Addenbrooke has a long history of high-yield, high-impact projects—including luxury residential towers, major commercial buildings, and expansive marina developments.
Their portfolio includes:
-
The Goldsbrough Mort wool store conversion in Pyrmont
-
Point Piper Marina and the Shangri-La Marina in Cairns
-
Commercial office towers such as 333 Kent Street and a 12-storey development planned for Alexandria
These are substantial, concrete-heavy projects with high visual and environmental footprints—far removed from the natural, shared character of North Harbour.
Is Addenbrooke the Right Fit for North Harbour?
North Harbour is not just another waterfront postcode. It’s a living coastal reserve, part of a delicate marine ecosystem, and home to species that require protection—including penguins that return to nest each year.
The style of development Addenbrooke is known for—dense, upmarket, and urban—feels incompatible with the values of conservation and restraint this site demands. If we allow a company with a background in city towers and high-impact marina hotels to reshape this space, we may be opening the door to irreversible environmental and cultural damage.
If we’re serious about preserving North Harbour for future generations—and for the wildlife who were here long before us—then we must ask: Is this developer aligned with the care and stewardship North Harbour deserves?
What You Can Do
Now is the time to act. Ask Northern Beaches Council to:
-
Enforce environmental and operational standards for all marina activities
-
Reject the inclusion of super yacht berths from this proposal
-
Require broad and transparent community consultation
-
Ensure that North Harbour remains safe, swimmable, and accessible for all
You can view the full proposal and lodge a submission via the Northern Beaches Council website. The DA number is DA2024/1216.
North Harbour belongs to all of us—not just those with the biggest boats or the deepest pockets. Let’s keep it that way.
