Yesterday NSW Crown Lands issued Cliff Lewis of Top Deck Marine Pty Ltd  with an invitation to operate the slipway and boatyard at Wollongong Harbour.  The initial license period is for five years from start of operations. Cliff Lewis has a long association with WYC as sponsor of our Australia Day Regatta and it is great to see his involvement in Wollongong Harbour growing. It has been agreed that members of WYC will receive a special discounted rate for use of the slipway and boatyard. Unlike many yards members will be allowed to work on their own boats.

As all can see the slipway has fallen into disrepair since Barry left. Crown Lands have provided $500,000 towards repairs and upgrade of the facility. Both the existing slipway cradles require repair. It is the intention one will be removed from the slipway and taken off site for repairs. To serve yacht owners better Cliff will be installing a new yacht cradle to slipway rails so in the long term there will be two main cradles plus the yacht cradle.

The yacht clubs shipping container that was removed for works on the stone wall will soon be returned and located in the boat yard area. Cliff will be setting up a site office and workshop. 

This is a great outcome for Wollongong boat owners after years of hard work by Cliff and the WYC committee to make this a reality.