Glitter Strip rolls out welcome mat for more massive superyachts

Enough sand to fill an entire stadium will be dredged from a Gold Coast river in a move to attract more superyachts to the region and boost the city’s economy.

THE State Government expects the removal of 75,000m3 tonnes of sediment from the Coomera River will attract more superyachts to the Gold Coast.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey has announced two Coast contractors have finished dredging and collected enough material to fill Cbus Stadium at Robina 15 metres deep.

“This was a mammoth undertaking that will unlock greater superyacht access for the city’s marine precinct,” Mr Bailey said.

“It shows we’re backing local business, backing the precinct’s Two-and-a-half thousand workers and backing our waterways: a $26 billion asset for the Gold Coast economy.

The $10.3 million Coomera Dredged Sediment Management Facility. Picture: Jerad Williams

“The completion of dredging is a major achievement that will ensure safe, navigable access for all types of vessels, including Superyachts up to 60 metres in length, supporting the

Palaszczuk Government’s Superyacht Strategy.”

The project started in May and involved 12 kilometres of the river being dredged to a depth of at least 3m below the Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT).

It’s completion coincides with the announcement Australia’s first covered berths would be built as part of a multimillion-dollar expansion of Sanctuary Cove Marina.

The $8.31 million development will increase the number of vessels able to berth from 237 to 303 and it’s expected the expansion will help attract a new superyacht market.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey. Picture: Jerad Williams

The State Government had to build a new sediment management facility at Coomera before dredging could begin, which created 26 direct or indirect jobs.

Gold Coast Waterways Authority CEO Hal Morris said the specialised facility manages fine silty sediment, which cannot be placed offshore or used for foreshore management.

“For a long-time, dredging the stretch of the river between the Gold Coast Marine Industry Precinct and Sanctuary Cove had been put in the too-hard basket because there was nowhere to dispose of the sediment in an economic and environmentally friendly way,” he said.

AMAZING OFFER: GET A SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB A 8.0 WITH THIS BULLETIN SUBSCRIPTION (T & Cs apply)

State Government Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey says the dredging “will unlock greater superyacht access for the city’s marine precinct”.

“We understand that the marine, tourism and recreation industries depend on access to our waterways and these works are part of our wider investment in their future under our Gold Coast Waterways Management Program.”

The sediment will be reused to landscape golf courses, among other projects.

Dredging of the river will be included in the Gold Coast Waterways Management Program going forward.

South Wave Break Island in the Broadwater will be dredged next under the program.

It’s due to start in October and finish in December.

Sediment removed from the channel will nourish the eastern foreshore of Wave Break Island.