"This is $12.5m on top of the original $10m that I pledged back in 2013 for the wharf extension and will be used to enhance tourism reception facilities, allow government services such as border control, to move into the building, provide a better transit for passengers and a more pleasing experience," Dr Kelly said.

He said it was the next major step is increasing volume of visitors because "if the experience is a positive one you can get a 21 per cent return of passengers" at another time.

But the passenger wharf isn't Dr Kelly's only focus at the Port of Eden.

"I have also secured with Snowy Hydro to bring in materials to the commercial wharf for Snowy Hydro 2.0. In addition Boco Rock (wind farm) will be stepped forward with stage 2 and will use the commercial port. The port has cheaper lay down rates and I want to really start building on volume," Dr Kelly said.

"It took two years to crack the Boco Rock nut and I am looking to build on that."

He said that Labor had pledged $250m for the duplication of the Barton Highway to enable the volume of traffic to "come through seamlessly".

Asked about the local east to west route, Dr Kelly said there were three options, Mount Darragh Road, Imlay Road and Brown Mountain but maintained that Imlay Road was the best option as it had been used to move equipment and machinery for the Boco Rock installation previously.

Dr Kelly said that the Port of Eden would benefit from future iterations of hydro installations, "Snowy Hydro 3 and 4" and added that he was encouraging Visy pulp mill in Tumut to use Eden because he wanted to see work for local people.

"We must diversify the economic base and that's driven a lot of what I've done and it will be important to the whole region."

Dr Kelly said he has a four-pillar strategic plan which includes super charging tourism, enhancing primary industries, using the area as a high-tech location and maximising the port's commercial potential.