Reef Marina to expand, boost economy
Reef Marina to expand, boost economy
Thursday October 23 2014, 12:10pm
Port Douglas’s iconic Reef Marina will be able to target the lucrative superyacht market and boost the local economy after an ambitious expansion announced today.
The Marina has made application to Douglas Shire Council for approval to extend the existing marina infrastructure with the addition of 45 new berths.
The expansion will provide urgently needed berthing facilities for marine tourism operators and visiting vessels and will enable the marina to accommodate superyachts of up to 50 meters in length.
The Reef Marina’s planned expansion will boost employment and economic activity in Port Douglas and the wider Douglas region.
By enabling private vessels and superyachts to visit Port Douglas and more commercial operators to base themselves here, the region will attract tens of
thousands of additional marine tourists and private yacht visitors each year.
This heightened activity will create employment opportunities and increase incomes for the region’s important marine and tourism sectors, resulting in an economic multiplier effect which is estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars.
Robert Cruz, General Manager of The Reef Marina, said: “The marina has been operating at full capacity for some time. We have been regularly turning away boats that want to
visit Port Douglas because we haven’t been able to accommodate them.”
“Our planned expansion is an exciting next step in our ongoing marina upgrade program. Since we acquired The Reef Marina late last year, over $2.5 million has been
spent improving the marina and retail complex.”
“Visiting superyachts will be a boon for Port Douglas as they will inject considerable money into the local economy. Superyachts currently gravitate towards competing
destinations such as Airlie Beach as we don’t have the infrastructure to accommodate them here”.
The Reef Marina’s planned expansion will accommodate 14 superyachts, defined as private vessels over 24 meters.
Regional superyacht peak body Superyachts GBR said the expansion was a prudent move on the Marina’s part.
“There is a shortage of good berths for the entire Queensland coast,” Superyachts GBR representative Susan Byrne-Callaghan said.
“The fact that the Reef Marina in Port Douglas is investing in infrastructure for superyatchs is brilliant.
“There’s huge potential here, it’s a beautiful region that owners and operators are very keen to re-discover.”
Ms Byrne-Callaghan said that ther region typically saw between 20 and 30 international superyacht visitors a year and that there were about 100 Australia-based superyacht operations.
Superyachts typically cost $5 million to $10 million and budgeted operating expenses are approximately 10% of their
value each year – or $500,000 to $1 million per year per superyacht. These costs include provisioning, crewing, maintenance & repairs, berthing, utilities and insurance.
David Kempton, Member for Cook, said:
“I have taken a keen interest in the development of the Port Douglas waterfront and welcome the additional berths to cater to an increasing number of yachts and tourists”.
The planned expansion will accommodate up to 26 new commercial or private vessels. According to Tourism Port Douglas & Daintree (TPDD), approximately 450,000 people
visited Port Douglas in FY2013 and over three-quarters of them visited the Low Isles or Great Barrier Reef.
At an average trip cost of about $200 each, the local marine tourism industry is worth over $65 million per year.
Tara Bennett, CEO of Tourism Port Douglas & Daintree, said:
“The marina is an integral part of the tourism industry and increasing facilities for reef boats, superyachts and the fishing industry will provide long-term benefits to the Douglas region.
The proposed marina expansion will mean Port Douglas has the capacity for an even greater reef fleet and more exciting facilities for superyachts which have been trying to access Port Douglas and all it has to offer for some time.
“Port Douglas and the surrounding region is very well positioned to cater to the special needs of superyachts and their high end clientele.
“The region’s tourism sector will benefit greatly from the expansion and
additional investment from The Reef Marina.”
John Morris, owner of Closehaven Marina and Patron of the Port Douglas Yacht Club, said:
“I warmly welcome The Reef Marina’s proposed expansion. Visiting superyachts will be a boon for Port Douglas as they will inject considerable money into the local economy. Superyachts currently gravitate towards Airlie Beach as we don’t have the infrastructure to accommodate them here”.
Douglas Chamber of Commerce president Phoebe Kitto also lauded the announcement.
“The Marina is an iconic part of Port Douglas and it’s great news that they will be drawing in the superyacht market,” Ms Kitto said.
“It’s important that Douglas move to maintain its champagne brand - we want to appeal to the top end of the traveller market with the longest stay and the highest spend, and I believe this decision will help with that.
“It’s a very good move.”
Gerry Ireland Chairman of Douglas Inc, the local econonomic development group, said:
"This is a major strategic economic development project, that will position The Reef Marina as Tropical North Queensland's most northerly Superyacht Marina. With closest access to
arguably the most impressive local reef systems within the GBR, as well as convenient access to the iconic Daintree Rainforest, the Reef Marina Expansion Project, will provide significant additional economic value, with benefits in the tens of millions of dollars for the Douglas Region. Approval from Douglas Shire Council sends the right signal to the Community, regarding their supportive stance on Regional Economic Development.”
Steve Edmondson, co-owner of Sailaway Reef & Island Tours, said:
“As an established marine operator, we strongly commend the expansion, development and continued investment in The Reef Marina. We are confident in the future opportunities ahead
and see the need to positively respond to both international and domestic visitors’ attraction to our unique Port Douglas Tropical North destination.”
The planned expansion will also cater for Port Douglas’ important fishing fleet.
A dedicated marina arm, entering from Wharf Street, has been proposed to accommodate trawlers and other working boats.
This expansion will not require dredging and is not expected to impact vegetation or fisheries.
Subject to timely Council and State approvals.
The Reef Marina expects to commence the marina expansion in 2015.