Lord Mayor calls for urgent action on River marina before it’s ‘too late’

Urgent action is needed on a Government promise to build a new commercial marina on the Brisbane River, the Lord Mayor says. Time is meanwhile running out for a dozen floating businesses facing eviction.

There are at least three suitable sites for a new commercial marina on the Brisbane River, the State Government just needs to hurry up and build one, according to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.

Cr Schrinner this morning (February 23) called on the Government to make good on a promise, after years of inaction, to construct a dedicated hub for River businesses.

He said the riverbank outside the old Hanson concrete factory in West End, the city Botanic Gardens, a site in Kangaroo Point or at Howard Smith Wharves at the northern approach to the Story Bridge were all viable locations.

“There are options along the Brisbane River,’’ he said.

“Howard Smith Wharves is a good option. When we built it, it was designed so a commercial marina could be added later next to the CityCat terminal, which was about forward planning.

Kookaburra Queen Brisbane River Christmas Day menu

“We are now an Olympics city and this (a commercial marina) is something that needs to be in place well before the Olympics.

“It would obviously require State Government funding.’’

Cr Schrinner’s calls come as no solution has yet emerged to a looming crisis at Dockside marina in Kangaroo Point where 11 floating businesses face eviction on Friday next week.

Brisvegas Cruises’ two charter boats, JetSki Brisbane, GoBoat hire service, Prawnster floating restaurant and others have to leave after the Department of Resources told marina owner Ken Allsop he had breached his seabed lease by allowing commercial activity.

Kookaburra River Queens paddlewheelers are also facing uncertainty after a July 27 eviction deadline from Eagle Street Pier in the CBD, which is being demolished for the $2 billion Waterfront Brisbane twin tower project.

Brisvegas cruises owner Barrie Coonan said he was told by officials when he had to leave North Quay for Dockside that the Government would build a new commercial marina on the river.

The Dockside marina eviction notice came after after hundreds of complaints over many months from nearby apartment owners and tenants about alleged noise, rubbish collection and other alleged issues involving the commercial operators.

Renee Patel from GoBoat is one of an estimated 200-300 workers whose jobs are uncertain due to the eviction from Dockside. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Brisvegas owner Barrie Coonan, Prawnster owner Martin Brennan and Aquarius Charters’ Wayne Miller said the complaints were a baseless vendetta driven by a small number of “grumpy old men’’.

But some Dockside residents, including longterm riverfront villa owner Greg Wilson, said the seabed lease clearly stated commercial activity was not permitted.

While Dockside residents had been prepared to overlook the charter vessels, an expansion in commercial activities since new marina owner Ken Allsop took over in 2016 was unacceptable.

However, Mr Allsop denied he had told Mr Wilson and other residents that he wanted to turn the marina into a “mini Howard Smith Wharves’’.

He insisted only 22 of the 76 berths would ever be for commercial operators, with most on one finger.