Superyachts Gold Coast: $11m to help make region Asia-Pacific’s superyacht hub by 2023

Millions will be poured into the Gold Coast’s booming superyacht industry to make it Asia-Pacific’s superyacht hub within three years. And there are lots of jobs on offer.

THE Gold Coast’s luxury boat and superyacht sector is surging so much governments are pumping $11 million to expand the city’s under-pressure marine trades campus.

In a jobs creation play, State and Federal governments will jointly announce on Monday more the seven-figure injection to dramatically expand the Coomera TAFE campus to try and keep pace with the booming industry.

The Boat Works new $100 million superyacht marina at Coomera

The funding comes as construction of a $9 million superyacht terminal at the Southport Yacht Club gets underway.

Training Minister Shannon Fentiman said the state was on track to become Asia-Pacific’s superyacht hub by 2023.

“The growing superyacht industry will create thousands of highly skilled jobs and contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to the state’s economy,” she said.

“The existing Coomera Marine TAFE campus in the Coomera Marine precinct has seen maritime study enrolments double in the last three years with limited room for expansion.

“Industry has told us they are building more boats – this means more skills are needed for more jobs – that’s what this expanded training facility will provide.”

The Federal Government will tip in $5.3 million, with the expansion set to begin this financial year and open by June 2022.

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The new facility will accommodate up to 500 students in maritime construction, maintenance and related services training.

Its features will include workshops for electrical and mechanical work, fibre glass and lamination, marine textiles and upholstery, and an outdoor boat workshop, welding facilities, classrooms and computer rooms, staff accommodation and student learning and breakout spaces.

Tony Longhurst is jumping for joy at the superyacht industry’s strength. Picture Glenn Hampson

The Boat Works marina and shipyard owner Tony Longhurst who has spent $100 million developing the nearby facility said the superyacht industry was “in very healthy shape” despite the economic downturn.

“We have seven (superyachts) here at the moment and on a busy day the Boat Works alone will have 1000 people employed in the industry, including subcontractors.

“This is a serious growth industry which is defying all logic given what you’d expect in a downturn so this new funding is wonderful.”

The Gold Coast’s boating industry is booming. Picture Glenn Hampson

Gold Coast’s homegrown Maritimo luxury boat brand founder Bill Barry-Cotter said he expected the Gold Coast’s superyacht industry to have “very healthy couple of years”.

“Things are looking really good at the moment after the worst of the virus and it appears to be picking up,” he said.

Data released in September revealed the industry had pumped $15 million into the city’s economy since March.

Stuart Robert and Michael Crandon

Despite the closure of borders to halt the spread of coronavirus, cashed-up boat owners have continued to get their vessels revamped either to liveaboard, head on trips or prepare for sale.

Fadden Federal MP Stuart Robert said the new Coomera TAFE project would create 30 jobs during construction and boost the lucrative industry.

“The Gold Coast maritime and superyacht industry is continuing to expand and grow. More

boats are being built and we need more skilled workers to step into these jobs,” he said.

Coomera MP Michael Crandon welcomed the funding after lobbying for it for a year.

“This will help meet the need for qualified tradespeople in the fast growing Coomera Marine

Precinct and is a welcome addition to the offerings at the Coomera TAFE Campus.”