Superyachts Gold Coast: New docking facility opens as mayor considers 'Boutique cruise ship terminal

The Gold Coast City Council is so confident a new $9m superyacht facility will be a success it is already considering a dock fit for a "boutique cruise ship".

The Gold Coast City Council is so confident a new $9m superyacht facility will be a success it is already considering funding an expansion.

The new berthing facility at the southern end of the Broadwater opened on Wednesday afternoon and will allow vessels of up to 130m to dock.

It promises to inject at least $12m annually into the economy.

Mayor Tom Tate said strong overseas inquiries was an indication of the business the facility would do.

Southport Yacht Club General manager Brett James celebrating the new Superyacht berth official opening . Picture Glenn Hampson

“This has been two years in the making and it is a top-class facility so even a boutique cruise ship could dock there,” he said.

“Absolutely (council would be prepared to fund an extension). We’ll be looking at the modelling which shows there can be $3-5m of economic gain for every ship that comes in, but I would say, based on the bookings, I would look now whether to extend there or build another facility nearby.”

Some vessels spend upwards of $600,000 each during their stay, he said.

“Let’s be the superyacht capital of our part of the nation.”

The ribbon cut at the official opening of the Gold Coast superyacht facility.

The new facility was jointly funded by the council and state government.

The superyacht sector is rapidly expanding and is expected to be worth $1.1bn a year and create an extra 8000 jobs by 2023.

According to Superyacht Australia, the Gold Coast received $36.5m from 23 superyacht visits in 2020.

This equated to just under half of the state total and 36 per cent of Australia.

Southport Yacht Club general manager Brett James said the new berth was the largest marine infrastructure of its kind in Australia and would “open the city to the world”.

“We have already been getting inquiries about docking a boat of up to 107m which will be coming from the Bahamas, so now that it is open the floodgates will open.

“In the eight months leading up to this we had to knock back more than $12m in revenue for the Gold Coast and that includes everything from food to fuel and flowers.”

The city’s superyacht strategy includes a $300m expansion of the Coomera Marine Precinct to provide a one-stop-shop for berthing, maintenance, service and fit out. 

How superyachts will transform Broadwater

CITY leaders anticipate the Gold Coast will become Asia Pacific’s top stop-in location for floating palaces now that the final hurdle to allowing giant 130m superyachts into the Southport Broadwater has been cleared.

More than $65,000 has been spent on a simulation that will show how the giant vessels will be able to enter the Broadwater and dock at the city’s new superyacht terminal, which will be the largest in the country.

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Mayor Tom Tate said the city was on the cusp of unlocking millions of dollars from being able to welcome more superyachts.

“The Gold Coast’s yachting industry is having a coming-of-age as we continue to expand facilities and infrastructure to meet a remarkable increase in demand,” he said.

“We’re putting the finishing touches on our hub and will create a safe and easy path for some of the world’s biggest superyachts.”

Originally published as Superyachts Gold Coast: New docking facility opens as mayor considers 'Boutique cruise ship terminal