Industry leader’s caution

A SUPERYACHT industry leader says the booming field should be cautious about growing too fast in the wake of the State Government launching a five-year plan to make Queensland a superyacht hub.

Speaking at the opening day of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) yesterday Australian Superyachts managing director Richard Morris said the industry should focus on sustainable growth

Mr Morris said business was booming but more infrastructure was needed to properly look after the lucrative boats which bring $630 million into the State’s economy annually.

“We’re growing, but we don’t want it to grow too fast, because if we grow too fast we’ll have all these yachts arrive and the owners are going to get annoyed because there’s going to be nowhere to park,” Mr Morris said.

“There’s all this talk about ‘we need to do better’. What do you mean we need to do better – we’re booming. We’ve had 200 superyachts come into Australia last year.”

Mr Morris said the customs clearance trial at the Broadwater was one of the “wins” the industry should focus on.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick said this week Brisbane would lobby the Federal Coalition to make the customs trial permanent after it ends in July.

“These little wins, like being able to clear customs on the Gold Coast, inching forward is what we want to see,” he said.

Australian Superyachts agent Pat McLoughlin said blue-collar workers were often beneficiaries of the industry.

“A lot of people say ‘oh, look at these snotty nosed rich people’ but it’s not about them, it’s about the 20 utes parked next to the superyacht, the trades people who work on them,” he said.

“We had a 65m boat spend $960,000 over Christmas in Cairns – so many families had a nice Christmas because of that.”

SCIBS general manager Johan Hasser said crowds for the first day of the event were up 30 per cent on last year, with up to 200 extra boats on show this year.

“It’s been fantastic, one of the biggest first days in 10 years,” Mr Hasser said.

Riviera Australia owner Rodney Longhurst said the company sold two boats, a 52footer and a 48-foot sports yacht, on the first day of the event.