Ambitious proposals for a massive £8 million marina in the Mearns have been unveiled.
Stonehaven Town Partnership (STP) is pursuing plans which could see the harbour become a berthing facility for more than 250 vessels, giving an annual income of up to £250,000.
Members of Aberdeenshire Council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee will next week be asked to consider helping a feasibility study into the bid.
If approved, the huge project could transform the fortunes of a community blighted by flooding and storms at the turn of the year.
With the enormous 9,000-home Chapelton of Elsick development at nearby Newtonhill receiving planning permission last month, demand for a new marina could be high.
Company secretary of STP, David Fleming, said: “Something needs to be done and we are now looking at a feasibility study into what improvements could be made.
“The harbour does need some significant repairs and there will have to be some big changes.”
Mr Fleming said fees for boats using the marina would be just part of the wider economic benefit.
“When boats come into any marina there is a lot of added value for the whole town,” he added.
“We have got to go at this with enthusiasm. There will be problems but we need to make sure we overcome these.”
Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone said: “It (a marina) has worked extremely well in Arbroath, for example, and the two could complement each other.
And Angus and Mearns SNP MSP Nigel Don added: “A new marina at Stonehaven would add considerably to local opportunities for tourism and business.”