AIMEX - Online Directory: Queensland

States

Queensland

About the Marine industry in Queensland

When it comes to boat building, Queensland sets the benchmark for the rest of Australia!

The state is home to a fleet of innovative firms that specialise in the design, manufacture and maintenance of a variety of marine vessels.

Craft range from small recreational boats, motor cruisers, commercial and defence vessels through to luxury super yachts. Queensland’s marine industries also encompass related equipment and component manufacturing such as trailers, electronics, engines and specialised marine equipment.

Service industries which support the marine industry include retail, distribution, brokerages and marinas. The State’s integrated marine precincts provide for clustering of the complete range of manufacturing and related services for marine industries with waterfront access and marina berths.

Queensland's Marine Industry strengths

In Brief

Expertise in the manufacture, refit and maintenance of high quality vessels, including super yachts
A vibrant local industry, specialists designing and servicing recreational, luxury, commercial and naval boats and ships
A highly technical workforce trained to international standards
Well established marine precincts and exciting new infrastructure development
An extensive range of first class commercial and club marinas and port infrastructure throughout coastal Queensland
A proven reputation as an exporter of marine products including ships, boats, design, chandlery supplies and infrastructure planning and design

In Detail

Queensland is Australia’s recreational boating powerhouse contributing over 40 per cent of all turnover and 67% of national exports valued at $122 million in financial year 2003. Growth in this sector averaged more than 9% pa over a ten year period.
Superyacht refit and destination cruising of Queensland’s coast, will also increase substantially in coming years leading to significant contributions to regional economies through demand for manufacturing and services suppliers.
The marine industry, and the boatbuilding sector in particular, represents one of the largest sophisticated manufacturing and/or high value added sectors in the State. In addition, the sector has a substantial regional presence and significant potential for increased growth.
Queensland firms possess expertise in the manufacture, refit and maintenance of high quality vessels, including recreational boats, yachts, multi-hulls, motor cruisers and super yachts.
The State boasts some of the finest marine manufacturing trades people in the world, with a significant focus on the continuing development of a highly technical workforce trained to international standards.
Queensland’s coastline is home to genuinely world class infrastructure including well established marine precincts an extensive range of first class commercial and club marinas and port infrastructure.
The State has a proven reputation as an exporter of marine products including ships, boats, design, chandlery supplies and infrastructure planning and design. Queensland’s marine industry exports are underpinned by a vibrant local industry supporting significant increases in recreational boating demand.

Queensland Marine Industry - Quick Facts

7,400 kilometres of coastline
World class sailing grounds, including the Great Barrier Reef
The likes of Riveria Marine, Azzura Yachts, Quintrex and Mustang Cruisers
Two thirds of Australian recreational boat building exports are manufactured in Queensland
World class marine infrastructure throughout coastal Queensland
Unique Naval Shipbuilding capabilities including one of Australia’s largest graving docks

Marine precincts

Queensland's marine sector is largely situated in and around the regional centres along the State's eastern coast from Cairns in the Far North to the Gold Coast on the southern border. Most of the regional centres along the coast have some type of marine presence incorporating many facets of the sector including manufacturing, refit and maintenance, marina facilities, chandlery and marine charter services.

The State's largest established marine precincts are located at the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Mackay/Whitsundays and Cairns. There are marine precincts in many other locations including Caboolture, the Sunshine Coast, Maryborough/Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Townsville.

Download a brochure on the Queensland Marine Industry's Regional Strengths.

Section 1 - Contents, Gold Coast, Brisbane
Section 2 - Caboolture, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, Gladstone
Section 3 - Mackay / Whitsundays, Townsville, Cairns

Below is a summary of each of these marine precincts.

Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is Queensland's second largest city and a major visitor destination for domestic and international visitors. It is also home to Australia's first and most expensive purpose-built industrial marine precinct. The precinct is clearly established as the nations leading recreational boatbuilding and service centre. The Gold Coast City Marina located on the Coomera River is an integrated commercial marina housing a range of marine manufacturing and service industries. The Gold Coast Marine Industrial Centre, adjacent to Gold Coast City Marina, hosts Australia’s leading recreational boatbuilders and other world class vessel manufacturers. As the precinct grows, it is developing an increasing focus on the building, maintenance and refit of superyachts.

Brisbane

Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and has a vibrant marine industry sector. The city's marine industries are heavily concentrated at the Brisbane Marine Industry Park located at Hemmant, approximately eighteen kilometres east of the Central Business District. The Brisbane Marine Industry Park will be complemented by Rivergate Business Park at Murarrie, which is due to be opened in 2006. Other marine industry locations include Manly, Thornlands and Morningside.

Caboolture

The Caboolture region is located between the State's capital, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and includes the local council areas of Caboolture, Redcliffe and Pine Rivers. Various destinations within the region are accessible for domestic tourists as well as a growing international tourist market. With a shoreline, rivers, lakes and the calm waters of Pumicestone Passage, there is a demand within the region for marine services and craft. Potential infrastructure developments in the region will further cement Caboolture as a strong marine industry proponent.

Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast is located just over an hour drive north of Brisbane. This region provides attractive tourism facilities and friendly coastal waters for marine activities. Within the region there are a number of coastal centres which are well suited to marine based activities. These include, Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Kawana Waters, Coolum and Noosa. Marine training in this region has been stimulated with the recent establishment of the United Kingdom Sailing Academy at Mooloolaba. The region also hosts a number of international quality vessel manufacturers.

Maryborough/Hervey Bay

Maryborough and Hervey Bay are situated three hours drive north of Brisbane. The region incorporates the areas of Fraser Island (the world's largest sand island), offering beach fishing and eco-tourism accommodation. Hervey Bay is renowned for it's whale watching experiences, whilst Tin Can Bay is home to a wide range of commercial fishing, bareboat charter and pleasure boats. The Maryborough region has a unique shipbuilding history and is gearing to again develop a strong marine cluster on the Mary River.

Bundaberg

Bundaberg is the largest urban centre in the Wide Bay-Burnett region, located four hours drive north of Brisbane. The southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef begins off the coast of Bundaberg, where Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave islands are situated. Intra-state tourists account for the majority of visitors to the region, taking advantage of charter and recreational boating facilities. The potential of the marine industry in Bundaberg is focused on the domestic market. Recent investment at Bundaberg Port has resulted in a commercial marina, maintenance and refit facilities and training.

Mackay/Whitsundays

Mackay and the Whitsundays group of coastal and island resorts are a major toursim destination for Australian and international mono and multi-hulled sailing vessels, as well as motor cruisers and increasingly, super yachts. The region also has the Nation's largest cluster of charter boat operators, catering for domestic and international visitors. Significant marine infrastructure in the form of commercial and club marinas and ferry terminals is available at Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour and Mackay.

Townsville

Townsville is located 1,400 kilometres north of Brisbane and is often referred to as the capital of North Queensland. Townsville has a small but vibrant marine industry servicing the local commercial and pleasure boat industry. It also hosts boat building and larger commercial marine project work, including contracts for defence vessels. The Townsville based industry is currently scattered across sites at Ross Creek, Ross River and the Breakwater Marina. The city is a destination for Cruise Ships and naval vessels from Australia and overseas on operational visits, rest and recreation.

Cairns

Cairns is an international tourist destination and Far North Queensland's major city. Cairns has a major superyacht cluster which is capturing significant benefits from the growing destination cruising market. The region’s marine industry can cater for the discerning needs of this market ranging from multi-million dollar refits of vessels to a broad range of tourism related services.