Delays threaten to leave $100m Coomera luxury boatyard high and dry

A NEW $100 million superyacht shipyard on the Gold Coast faces being left high and dry, and 1000 jobs put in jeopardy, because of State Government delays in approving a 100m seabed lease.

Prominent Gold Coast businessman Tony Longhurst, who is at Coomera to service some of the world’s most luxurious vessels, says the situation is “crazy” and “bizarre” given the area is a designated marine precinct.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey yesterday announced $20 million in works, including dredging of the Coomera River “to unlock superyacht access to the Gold Coast Marine Industry precinct”.

But Mr Longhurst – a former V8 Supercars driver, son of Dreamworld founder John Longhurst and brother of Riviera luxury yacht manufacturer Rodney – said his The Boat Works facility risked being effectively landlocked because of delays in approving the seabed lease.

“We’re building the world’s best superyacht facility and we’ve got this bizarre situation where the superyachts won’t be able to get access – it’s just crazy,” he said.

“We’re spending $1 million a week to build this project and create more than 1000 jobs but we’re being held to ransom and tied up in red and green tape over a 100m strip of land.

“It’s fantastic that the Government’s dredging the channel but the superyachts won’t be able to get from the channel to our property without that seabed lease.”

Work is well under way on the superyacht facility which will feature a marina capable of berthing 45m superyachts, 20 superyacht sheds and a 300-tonne travel lift to hoist the mega-boats out of the water for servicing.

The project is due to be finished early next year but Mr Longhurst said it risked being delayed.

A Government spokesman said the State Assessment and Referral Agency was assessing two development applications “to legitimise works already taken” and which were only received last month.