Dockside Marina Kangaroo Point businesses given new deadline to leave

After a bitter high seas stoush lasting more than 18 months, floating businesses at a CBD marina now face a final ultimatum.

Jetski Brisbane and other operators have been told to leave. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Floating businesses employing dozens of people have been told to leave a CBD marina by next month after the lessee failed to convince the State Government to change his lease conditions.

Dockside Marina lessee Ken Allsop has been battling to appeal a Department of Resources edict in 2022 to boot out commercial operators from the Kangaroo Point facility.

DoR said the lease was only ever intended for recreational boat users.

An expansion of commercial operators in recent years, including a floating seafood restaurant, jetski and electric boat hire, sparked complaints from residents in the adjacent Dockside unit towers.

They said there had been frequent noise from customers, smells from rubbish and alleged safety issues caused by golf buggies towing rubbish bins and supplies back and forth across a public boardwalk.

Jetski Brisbane and other operators have been told to leave. Picture: Nigel Hallett

In February last year DoR ordered the businesses to leave by April, sparking threats of a floating blockade.

The department then offered a “moratorium’’ after the floods, which badly damaged the marina.

Mr Allsop then requested an internal review of DoR’s eviction notice, with the decision upheld in June.

But nothing happened until a few weeks ago when operators were told they had to be out by the beginning of April.

A DoR spokesman said while it “recognises the value of the tourism operators on the Brisbane River’’ lessees on government property must meet the conditions on their leases.

“The department is aware the lessee at Dockside Marina has provided the commercial vessels and operators with notice to vacate the marina,’’ he said.

“The department will continue to monitor the situation to ensure the lessee complies with the conditions of the lease.

“Work is continuing across the government to identify alternative mooring for the businesses operating from the marina.’’

Two charter boat operators, Aquarius Charters and Brisvegas (which runs Lady in Red and James Cavill), took the chance to move a few weeks ago after rare vacancies for Brisbane River berths opened at Rivergate marina.

Sam Brennan (left) and Chris Dougherty from Prawnster floating restaurants were angry at being told to leave. Picture: Nigel Hallett

But they said that was only a temporary solution.

“If we take on a cruise at midday we have to leave Rivergate by 11 or 10.45(am) to get to the city to pick up passengers, then we have to get back to berth,’’ Aquarius owner Wayne Miller said.

“So a three-hour cruise becomes five-and-a-half hours on the water, costing us extra for staff time and fuel.”

Brisvegas owner Barrie Coonan said they also had to factor in significant extra wear and tear.

“Engines we might usually replace every 10 or 15 years might have to be replaced every five to six years,’’ he said.

“Rivergate (downstream of the Gateway Bridge) is a good, purpose-built marina but it’s too far from our customers and for us it’s harder to manoeuvre.

The Dockside Marina. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“This is a temporary solution. It’s very difficult, very frustrating because the State Government says they’re working on things in the background, talking to stakeholders, but they’re not talking to us about what we need.’’

GoBoat, which operates small electric hire vessels, now ties up at Breakfast Creek near the Mercedes Benz headquarters but was understood to prefer a berth nearer the CBD as well.

Its boats were too slow for customers to motor to the CBD and they could not handle strong currents.

Jetski Brisbane also was believed to not want to operate from Rivergate or the Raptis berth at Colmslie, where the now-paused Kookaburra Queens paddle-wheelers have been tied up.

Mr Coonan said there were no other suitable marinas on the river.

Lucy Bain, Ell on the Brisbane River in a GoBoat, which has had to move to Breakfast Creek. Picture: Tara Croser

“It’s ridiculous, counting down to an Olympics, to not have these businesses in a river city near the CBD,’’ he said.

Greg Wilson, who has led the fight by seven Dockside waterfront villa owners to evict the businesses, said they were finally told last week that it was going ahead.

“We’re still in the dark on what notice has been given to whom,’’ he said.

“DoR has embarrassed themselves with them conduct but at least it now looks like there will be action.’’

He said the Dockside Precinct Management Committee, which represented 650 owners of units in the precinct’s eight buildings, had also fought to get the commercial operators to leave.

Mr Allsop was contacted for comment.