State Government to announce multi-million funding to create Gold Coast dredging facility

A DECADE long battle to have the Coomera River dredged and opened up for super yachts will be resolved following a major funding announcement today.

The upper reaches of the Coomera River will be dredged after a new sediment management facility is built.

A DECADE-long battle to have the Coomera River dredged and opened for super yachts will be resolved following a major funding announcement today.

Ports Minister Mark Bailey will announce $3 million towards the construction of the Coomera Dredged Sediment Management Facility.

Construction of the facility at Shipper Drive is expected to start in June with first use later this year creating what boaties refer to as the Coomera River’s “M1” equivalent.

The stretch of river from Sanctuary Cove to the Gold Coast City Marina was not able to be dredged previously but the new facility would ensure storage for sediment and create a depth of 3.5m.

Skippers of larger boats are likely to start using the river and the Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) estimates the boost in business is likely to create 500 new jobs.

Ports Minister Mark Bailey will announce new funding to help dredge the Coomera River. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Mr Bailey said the Sediment Management Facility was the first of its kind on the Coast and would see material dredged from the Coomera River potentially reused for a wide range of uses.

“This project is a job creator and a job sustainer,” Mr Bailey told the Bulletin.

“The Gold Coast Marine Precinct at Coomera is home to more than 100 businesses employing 2500 people. This new facility secures these jobs and the future of this world-class industry.”

Mr Bailey said the multi-million-dollar marine industries operating in the region needed certainty of access and safe navigation.

Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard director Trenton Gay standing in front of a 60-metre superyacht being worked on at the marina at Coomera. Dredging will only help business at the marine precinct. Picture Glenn Hampson

The facility would not just provide security for businesses and employees but support further industry growth by enabling larger vessels to access the services provided by the Coomera Marine Precinct, he said.

“ It will help minimise potential environmental impacts by managing the fine, silty mud sediment found in the upper sections of the Coomera River that is not suitable for riverbank or beach replenishment,” Mr Bailey said.

GCWA chair Mara Bún said extraction of sediment from the river was essential to maintain safe and appropriately deep navigational channels and improve water flow for flood mitigation.

GCWA chair Mara Bun and CEO Hal Morris Photo: David Clark

“In developing the project over the past two years, GCWA has consulted widely with the local community, commercial enterprises, residential estate managers and Coomera River residents,” she said.

“All stakeholders share a common interest in ensuring safe navigational access and flood management to ensure public safety and amenity on the Gold Coast and its many waterways.”

The facility can be used by organisations and businesses that undertake dredging in the area including GCWA, local government, local industry and owners of waterfront residential estates.

The announcement today is the second major boost to the marine industry after work began in February on two massive berths for super yachts at the city marina.

The berths will enable 65m multi-million super yachts to berth at the Coast and undergo expensive refits.