Shute Harbour to open at 90 per cent occupancy as cruise, camping and kayaking companies seek tenancies
‘The main purpose is marine transport, but it’s a beautiful destination – there’s a real opportunity to make it a destination marina’ – Aviation and Tourism COO Craig Turner.
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Shute Harbour could become the Whitsundays’ new “destination marina,” with Whitsunday Regional Council expecting to open the redeveloped facility later this year with a range of businesses on board, including retail and hospitality.
Eight tourism and marine operators were on track to sign lease agreements for pontoon berthing or ticketing booths at the council-managed facility within the next three to four weeks, including Cruise Whitsundays, Explore Hamilton Island, and Whitsunday Island Camping Connection.
Aviation and Tourism Chief Operating Officer Craig Turner said these agreements would result in a 90 per cent occupancy rate at the reopening of the Cyclone Debbie-destroyed marina in September, with a draft pricing model indicating the tenancies would “far exceed” forecast revenue.
Mr Turner said the council was also looking at opportunities beyond marine transport to make the most of the location, and had recently ditched the idea of a cafe space at the site in favour of a full-service restaurant, in the hopes of attracting a high quality tenant.
“We see that this can be a destination restaurant – a Fisherman’s Wharf type opportunity,” he said.
Mr Turner said the council would provide “warm shells” for tenants to move into, with the tenants themselves to cover the majority of fit out costs.
The exceptions would be baggage conveyors and indoor and outdoor terminal seating, for which the council had budgeted to ensure consistency in quality and aesthetics throughout the facility.
“We don’t want a hotch potch of Bunnings chairs over here and Italian chairs over there,” he explained.
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Originally published as Shute Harbour to open at 90 per cent occupancy as cruise, camping and kayaking companies seek tenancies
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