Coomera River dredging to boost superyachts industry
THE long-awaited dredging of the Coomera River is on track after the awarding of a multimillion-dollar contract to a Gold Coast company to build a new management facility.
The Bulletin in a report in April said the decade-long battle to dredge the river so it could be opened up for super yachts had been resolved after a funding commitment by the Palaszczuk Government. A dredged sediment management facility would for the first time create a depth of 3.5m for the stretch of river from Sanctuary Cove to the Gold Coast City Marina.
A recent report revealed that with the proper government policy changes, including the dredging of the Broadwater and rivers, superyachts will create almost 8000 jobs and $1.1 billion in revenue by 2021. Acting Ports Minister Steven Miles today will announce a $3 million contract to construct the Coomera Regional Dredged Sediment Management Facility is to be awarded to Synergy Resource Management Pty Ltd.
“This $3 million facility will be the first of its kind on the Gold Coast and is a significant project for the city’s multimillion-dollar marine industry which will mean certainty of access and safe navigation in the Coomera river,” Mr Miles said.
The Gold Coast Marine Precinct at Coomera was home to more than 100 businesses employing 2500 people, he said.
Gold Coast Waterways Authority Chair, Mara Bun, said key stakeholders had been consulted throughout the project to ensure the best possible outcomes for the local community and for the environment. The GCWA would continue to consult during the construction phase due to begin in the coming weeks, she said.
“We are expecting the facility to be completed and ready for use by the end of the year. Then we can get on with the next important step of improving navigational access through our targeted dredging program,” Ms Bun said.