‘It’s a debacle’: Trouble ahoy for Gold Coast marina businesses

Dozens of Gold Coast tourism operators fear financial ruin as they face being kicked out of a major marina to make way for a $480m superyacht redevelopment.

More than 30 Gold Coast Broadwater tourism operators face being left high and dry as their base is scuttled to make way for a $480m redevelopment including a superyacht marina.

The businesses, including fishing and sailing charters and jet ski tour operators, have been based at Mariner’s Cove at Main Beach for years but are set to be pushed out within months for the makeover which includes a Ritz-Carlton hotel.

They fear potential ruin after being told they will have to use public pontoons to operate from.

Upset Mariners Cove marina tourism operators, who are being kicked out to make way for a new superyacht marina. Michael Tromp and Samara Ey Escobar from Champagne Sailing Cruises. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“It’s a debacle and it’s just not going to work,” said Janine Wright, owner of Gold Coast Luxury Charters and a spokeswoman for the Commercial Marine Industry Association.

“Many operators have boats which are just too big for the two or three public pontoons in the Broadwater, which are busy enough as it is without having tourism operators trying to load and unload passengers.

“We will have no power and nowhere to dump sullage. It’s a recipe for chaos.”

Ms Wright said the 32 “Aussie-owned” family businesses employed more than 200 people and turned over more than $100 million “which is a lot of money for the local economy”.

Mariners Cove Marina. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“We are a vital segment of the Gold Coast tourism industry but our concerns are being ignored by the State Government,” she said.

Ms Wright said when Mariner’s Cove was sold last year to Melbourne developers the Pelligra Group and Giannarelli Group, operators were told they would probably have to be out by Easter and began talks with the government – which leases the seabed for the marina and controls the waterways – as well as the Gold Coast City Council.

She said they had been given a small reprieve as the redevelopment awaited council approval but they now faced having to leave mid-year “with nowhere to go”.

New plans showing a boardwalk and hotel as part of the Mariner's Cove redevelopment on The Spit at the Gold Coast.

Champagne Sailing Cruises owner Michael Tromp said his business had been based at Mariner’s Cove for about 14 years and international tourism was only just starting to bounce back after Covid.

“Now this,” he said.

“Our boat is 15m and has a 2.2m keel and a mast and it really restricts our options as far as access and berthing is concerned.

Aerial photos of Mariner's Cove on The Spit at the Gold Coast. Picture: Sunland Group

“There’s possibly only two public pontoons that I could access with my draught. We all want to leave at midday and sunset – what happens when there are 12 other boats wanting to use the same locations at the same times?

“We still have to keep the boat somewhere. Moorings and anchorages are so inconvenient when you have to bring in supplies and crews and access power.”

Mr Tromp said he had been told the new owners of Mariner’s Cove wanted to exclude all commercial operators from the marina and make it exclusively for “expensive private boats”.

“We could probably all wear the redevelopment if we knew we could come back but by the sounds of it, they don’t want us back,’ he said.