Sinking under fees
THE boss of one of Cairns’ oldest dive businesses says skyhigh berthing fees at the city’s marina has been dampening tourism growth in the Far North.
Down Under Dive managing director Peppi Iovanella has joined other operators calling upon the State Government to set an independent arbitrator to help reduce commercial berthing fees at the marina.
Several businesses, under the banner of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, are refusing to sign leases for Ports North, arguing the Cairns marina is the most expensive place to berth a commercial vessel on Australia’s east coast.
AMPTO says operating a 30m tourism-related vessel at the marina was about $120,000 a year, compared with $40,000 in the Whitsundays and $50,000 in Port Douglas.
Mr Iovanella, whose business has operated in Cairns since 1988, said the exorbitant berthing fees at the marina were restricting growth in the city.
“We’re concerned that it’s becoming increasingly unprofitable to operate in Cairns, because they keep adding more fees to our business and we can’t afford it,” he said.
“And none of the money (Ports North) is taking in, is remaining in Cairns for the benefit of the local community,” he said.
“It’s all going down to Brisbane.”
Tourism Minister Kate Jones, who visited Cairns earlier this week, is expected to discuss economic the issue with Transport Minister Mark Bailey.
Cairns MP Michael Healy, who used to work for the Quicksilver Group, said he understood the dive operators’ concerns.
He hoped an independent arbitrator could be appointed to help solve the issue.
“I’m hoping that we’ll get a very positive outcome,” he said. “These 13 operators, they employ 10,000 people here (in Cairns). But the reality is, there is no other facility available where they can operate.”
The State Opposition’s tourism spokesman Andrew Powell said the high marina fees were an indication the Government was “doing everything possible to put Cairns at a disadvantage”.
“If a marina operator can berth in Mackay or Airlie Beach for less than half the price, Cairns is behind the back foot from the first place,” he said.
“Minister Jones needs to do more than talk to Minister Bailey. They need to come up with a solution and they need to come up with a solution quickly.”