Shell Cove Boathouse build kicks off, $520m Calderwood project launches
AND 2026 Illawarra Business Awards open
It’s one of the biggest ticket items on Shellharbour City Council’s books and, after a series of lengthy delays, it’s happening.
The multi-million dollar Shell Cove Boathouse Tourism and Marine precinct lured a bevy of politicians to the waterfront as the shiny shovels helped turn the ceremonial first sod.
The groundbreaking ended years of delays caused by protracted development approval processes and ground conditions that required geotechnical investigation before works could proceed.
The precinct will deliver a specialist boatyard with dry dock capability for vessels up to 30 metres and 75 tonnes, a tourism visitor centre complete with charter hire, dive, whale watching and e-bike operators, and a refuelling facility targeting high-end commercial vessels. There also will be an indoor‑outdoor entertainment space and café on the promenade.
Shellharbour MP Anna Watson and Mayor Chris Homer stood alongside NSW Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty to turn the sod at Shell Cove, marking the start of construction on the Shellharbour Boathouse development, which is supported by a $10 million investment from the NSW government.
“Seeing construction underway is a welcome step forward for the Shellharbour community,” Watson said. “The Boathouse precinct will deliver many new jobs, support local operators and give our harbour the facilities it needs to attract visitors, events and activity that flow directly into local businesses and the broader region.”
The development is projected to support 77 direct jobs on completion.
The project ranks as the single largest new capital item in Shellharbour City Council’s entire 2025/26 program.
Budget documents in the council’s Delivery Program and Operational Plan (DPOP) show an $18.651 million new capital allocation for Shell Cove this financial year, with a further $12.988m committed for 2026/27 - placing council-side construction expenditure at about $31.6m across two years.
To finance its share, council has approved an $11.228m loan, itemised in the DPOP borrowings schedule specifically as the “Shell Cove (Council Funded projects) - Boat Maintenance Facility” - one of only two borrowings council has flagged for 2025/26.
International developer launches $520m Calderwood project
Japanese-backed developer Sekisui House Australia will launch its first Illawarra project - a 455-dwelling, 36-hectare masterplanned community in Calderwood - on Saturday and they’re targeting buyers priced out of Greater Sydney. The move signals growing institutional confidence in the region's residential market.
The $520 million project will include Sekisui’s prefabricated SHAWOOD product, alongside more than 12,000sqm of parkland.
With Greater Sydney’s median house price above $1.76 million, Calderwood’s current median of $1.055 million positions the precinct as a credible alternative for first-home buyers and owner-upsizers
Buyer demand data cited by the company - a 68 per cent year-on-year increase attributed to realestate.com.au - points to demand the local land supply pipeline has yet to fully absorb.
Calderwood is one of a handful of greenfield release areas in the Illawarra underpinned by state infrastructure investment, including the Albion Park Rail bypass. The project sits within broader state planning forecasts projecting the Illawarra-Shoalhaven population to exceed 540,000 by 2041.
The unveiling takes place on Saturday, May 2, and includes guided tours of the masterplan, vacant land lots and SHAWOOD display homes, alongside a family-friendly program of activities. Head to Cascadia, Calderwood - 158 Bushranger Parade, Calderwood - between 11am and 2pm.
Central Coast makes noise about Supercars
When Supercars CEO James Warburton addressed the series’ Adelaide Gala in December 2025, he confirmed he had been in discussions with the NSW Government about a replacement for Newcastle, which ended its four-race hosting run in 2023. Specialist publication V8 Sleuth reported Wollongong and the Central Coast had both surfaced as options.
The Central Coast has since been loudest. Councillor Jared Wright published a Daily Telegraph opinion piece nominating northern suburbs - Long Jetty, The Entrance, Toukley - as potential circuit corridors, while acknowledging a 2016 bid stalled over the logistics of closing the Pacific Highway through Gosford.
While not an official response from the Central Coast, the enthusiasm was definitely stronger than the mixed reaction an event in Wollongong received.
Wollongong MP Paul Scully supports the Gong as host but others are more circumspect. Lord Mayor Tania Brown has questioned the event’s suitability for the city while Destination Wollongong boss Jeremy Wilshire said the event would require “careful consideration of community impact, logistics and overall value”.
The official line is that council has not received a formal submission or application from Destination NSW or V8 Supercars about the event.
Yes, it’s Illawarra Business Awards time
The Illawarra’s most prestigious celebration of business excellence has officially launched, with entries now open for the 2026 IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards.
Now in its 32nd year, the IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards continue to showcase the depth, resilience and ambition of the region’s business community, from emerging enterprises and micro businesses, through to large employers and globally connected firms.
Business Illawarra Director, Coralie McCarthy said the awards play a critical role in recognising business leadership at a time of ongoing economic pressure.
“Whether you are a sole trader, a fast-growing employer or a long-established organisation, there is a category that reflects your contribution,” Ms McCarthy said.
Winners from the IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards will progress to represent the region at the NSW Business Awards with Business NSW, providing an opportunity for local success stories to be recognised at a state level.
For all the categories, go to the Business Illawarra website. Entries close on June 10, 2026, with the gala awards night to be held in September.