State backs superyacht hub dream

THE boss of the Gold Coast’s biggest marina says after “fluffing around for years” the State Government is on board with boosting superyacht traffic.

Gold Coast City Marina CEO Trenton Gay and the marine industry hailed yesterday’s launch of a state superyacht strategy which aims to unlock the industry’s potential to create thousands of jobs and pump hundreds of millions into the Queensland economy.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick unveiled a five-year plan to attract 10 per cent more of global superyacht traffic by 2023 and make Queensland a key Asia Pacific hub for the floating palaces.

“The Queensland Government is committed to developing your superyacht industry to recognise the significant economic and employment potential of this growth sector.

“There are great prospects ahead,” Mr Dick told the Australian Superyacht, Marine Export and Commercial Marine conference at Sanctuary Cove.

Superyacht activity in southeast Queensland already pumps in $630 million annually and supports 4500 fulltime jobs across servicing, refitting and charters.

It is expected to soar to $1.1 billion and 8000 jobs by 2021.

Mr Dick said his Government would lobby the Federal Coalition to make a Southport Yacht Club trial of on-water Border Force and quarantine clearance for foreign vessels permanent after it ends in July.

It would also keep pushing for change to the exorbitant 10 per cent GST bond based on the value of foreign vessels wanting to charter.

Key planks of the strategy – to be driven by Member for Cairns Michael Healy – aim to promote superyacht infrastructure, Queensland as a big boat destination and back the superyacht supply chain with industry training.

Mr Gay said finally politicians “are speaking our language”.

“They have been fluffing around for years. It’s a big change,” he said. “The beauty of the international vessels coming into Australia is it is foreign dollars injected into the economy – it is not just Australian dollars turning over, it’s new money.”

Bray Management owner Cameron Bray, a Gold Coast superyacht charter consultant partnered with one of the biggest brokerages in the world, said the State Government strategy was on the right track.

“The turning point was that economic impact study last year to show this was a bona fide industry — this is a livelihood for people.”