Key issues raised by industry

Dredging

  • Dredging is a very big concern particularly in light of anticipated new development currently undergoing an expression of interest process on the Spit. Currently promoting Marinas Cove and the Southport Yacht Club as destination points for visitors to the Gold Coast.
  • Ad hoc dredging cannot continue. A forward plan is required which should assist to simplify the approvals process.
  • Need to look at channels like roads. New laws should be developed by Maritime Safety to provide clear safe passage for vessels in the study area. The study will need to address all interests.
  • Urgent requirement for capital and maintenance dredging now for commercial needs, safety and recreational users.
  • Dredging is limited to the channel network. Dredging potential should include the southern beach area on South Stradbroke.
  • Need a long term cash flow for all areas to support funding dredging of activity.

Commercial opportunities

  • Any pockets of land must be commercially viable for development. Coomera is already designated as a marine precinct. If other areas are to be identified for marine development in this process the local zoning needs to reflect that as an allowable use.
  • Recognition of the expected population growth needed in the southern part of the study area in particular and therefore a distinct priority should be given to looking at the Broadwater. There is a strong correlation between proximity to a destination and commercial viability in the marine industry.
  • Urban settlement and conflicting zoning requirements need to be addressed. Impacts of flooding. Need to consider sewerage treatment outflows.
  • Business foregone due to inaccessible waterways up to the Coomera Marine Precinct. Quantify employment, training and profit opportunities the marine industry is missing out on and could develop. Refit facilities must also be considered to support the industry.
  • Queensland-based marine manufacturing businesses are being pursued by NSW and Western Australia who are offering financial relocation incentives.
  • Superyachts cannot get through the seaway and easily navigate their way up to Coomera. The average spending of superyachts last year represented $10 000 per day per yacht. Maintenance for yachts usually represents approximately 10 per cent of the value of the vessel per year (i.e. $40 000 - $100 000 plus per year).
  • Shallow areas (i.e. choke points) currently causing problems in the navigation channel network, if removed, would enable greater vessel access for a majority of the larger vessels in the study area. Any superyacht with a draft in excess of 2.5 metres will currently struggle in the study area as generally the area is made up of shallow waterways.
  • There is a growing need for dry storage of boats as many people are choosing high rise housing on the Gold Coast and need to store their boats.
  • Looking at each area is certainly the way to proceed. Need to consider a range of uses to gain a broad overall vision for the area. If a world class standard for marinas is promoted, what does that actually mean? Some definitions around this concept would be helpful.
  • Getting approvals for development is very difficult. Seems to be a continual set of obstacles to approvals. Don't delay plans for the Broadwater any further.
  • There needs to be flexibility built into the master plan which takes account of already disturbed areas which as a result of artificial creations such as artificial reefs, wildlife (eg. Russian wader birds) are attracted to those areas. It needs to be recognised that without this artificially-created environment constraints, would not exist in those locations. Equally, the same contingent of birds in this case, could be relocated using the same approach to areas of less development potential. Environmental considerations and constraints must be sensitive to the potential to recreate artificial areas to promote wildlife every bit as much as it seeks to protect areas for the same purpose.
  • The sand build-up within the Broadwater area wasn't as extensive five years ago. This is due to the on-going coastal processes within the area in relation to the accretion of sand.

Need and management

  • A management authority like the Waterways Board or a Harbours Authority needs to be established to offer a one-stop-shop for dredging approvals, speed limit determination, policing and development applications directly within the waterway. Applications for development need to be efficient and take full consideration of the impacts to existing infrastructure and the current experience of recreational boaties and users of the adjacent land to ensure that the experience is continually enhanced and not stifled.
  • The population and the number of boating registrations are increasing. The value of improving the waterway experience should also be measured in community-benefit terms to gather a full appreciate of what could be achieved.

Destinations

  • Destinations noted as viable include behind Seaworld, the marine stadium area and the northern side of Wave Break Island. Establishing more destination points in this waterway needs to be a priority. Must consider that people are purchasing bigger boats with greater draft requirements.
  • Other destinations include Sanctuary Cove and the Southport Yacht Club. People want complete accessibility and multi-purpose destinations.
  • Diving sites are also noted as a popular destination for people.
  • There is a need for the creation of ’U’ islands as destination sites, placing the open end of the ‘U’ away from the channel. People need to be positioned away from the current to limit disturbance on vessels.

Safety

  • More people, new to boating, are utilising the Broadwater with limited local knowledge of the waterway which can compromise safety. There is a need to plan for boating safety and the development of safe havens.
  • Speed limits and wash from larger boats are a safety concern in narrow channels. Smaller craft are vulnerable to the wash of larger boats.
  • Potential development for Wave Break Island could include low rise building, convenience for people, useable boating areas, boating restrictions on areas of the Broadwater and multi-use recreation areas.
  • Safety and compatibility need to be addressed in relation to the development of the Marine Stadium and the creation of safe havens.
  • Safety on the waterways can be improved by encouraging people out of the main channel by providing destinations off the main channel. Anchoring restrictions are difficult to enforce and police.

Broadwater

  • Industry considered the Broadwater study area as a key element to the master plan strategy as it is a significant boating area.
  • Regular dredging could enable competitive marine events in the Broadwater. There is great potential for sailing (e.g. Olympic sailing area) and regattas in the Broadwater.
  • Need to compare the environmental values of the Broadwater with tourism and recreation values.
  • The road networks to the Broadwater site and the Spit will need to be improved.
  • Need for recreational havens in the Broadwater. There are limited recreational opportunities and destination points for the weekend boatie to moor.
  • More public transport in the Broadwater and beyond.

Wave Break Island

  • Wave Break Island has a central location and is accessible. The master plan should consider the opportunity for a marina on the western side of Wave Break Island.
  • There is a limit to the number of boats that could moor around the island for the day. Each side of Wave Break Island was noted as a good protected location depending on weather.
  • Immediately south of Wave Break Island is narrow and dangerous and should not be considered as a destination point.
  • The design of the bypass system needs to be reconsidered.
  • Need to consider the implications of developing areas on the Broadwater as the development of artificial reefs and Wave Break Island have created new environmental constraints.
  • Sustainable development can be considered in the Broadwater.

Coomera

  • Most of the land south of the Logan River is low-lying land and shows potential for marine related development, however it may involve inundating some land for a marina or canal entrance. In the Canals Act there was a limit on the tidal compartment within the Coomera River.
  • Areas identified as No Go zones for marine development may become viable in the longer term.

Jacobs Well

  • Jacobs Well is a major public access point which needs to be expanded. However congestion on the water is an issue in this area and safety needs to be addressed.
  • Jacobs Well and the Coomera River were noted as potential problem areas with regard to navigation and siltation.
  • There is a great need for a public jetty. A public jetty would be beneficial at Jacobs Well and access from Brisbane should be improved. This will help with drop-off points. Hundreds of vessels moor/anchor in the area. The steering committee advises that the Department of Transport and Main Roads recently rebuilt the public jetty at Jacobs Well.
  • Opportunity for recreation and destination sites north of Jacobs Well could be considered. It is difficult to navigate south from Jacobs Well.
  • The Pimpama River has good access to Tipplers Passage and currently has a small boat ramp which could be expanded.
  • The question was raised as to why Tipplers has been given less priority for dredging, particularly as it could be an ideal area for white boats.
  • The study area includes Jacobs Well village and Calypso Bay. The only access is from the Pimpama River, however industry saw very little opportunity to develop this investigation area as there are significant constraints. The steering committee advises that there is a shallow channel connecting the Pimpama River to the Jacobs Well main channel but most boats access Jacobs Well and Calypso Bay from the main channel.
  • Major access point for trailer boats: the boat ramp is always crowded and should be widened. The steering committee advises that the Gold Coast City Council prepared a master plan for the Jacobs Well boat ramp and adjoining community infrastructure five years ago. Townsville has an eight-lane ramp that appears to work well however, it would need to be marshalled.
  • Jacobs Well and Stayplton Roads are dangerous and there is a need for improved road infrastructure.
  • Jacobs Well has perhaps one of the narrowest channels and therefore any development that occurs should not impinge on the channel.

Steiglitz

  • Limited amount of waterfront land available within this investigation area. It is difficult to establish marine industries if there is no access to the waterfront. If the marine-related development is not located on the waterfront, issues such as building and cutting on land and creating internal waterways could be problematic.
  • Jacobs Well and Steiglitz are considered to be the next ‘Coomera’ in that region.

Logan River

  • It was suggested that the Logan River Area be joined to the Steiglitz Investigation Area to create a larger broad investigation area.
  • Road infrastructure should be considered. There needs to be a vision for a better road network.
  • Random anchoring in the straight and Jacobs Well is dangerous as the channel is very narrow. Boaties should be prevented from anchoring in channels and alternative anchorages need to be offered.
  • Possibility for an industrial marina to be developed on the Logan River if dredging occurred at the mouth. If the sand could be sold, it may help to offset the cost of maintenance dredging.
  • Need to consider channels like roads. The channels must be wide enough to cater for larger boats and the wash created by them so that those in tinnies are not compromised.

Point Talburpin

  • It would be very costly to put any capital dredging operation within this very shallow area.

Victoria Point

  • Outside the investigation area towards the north is an industrial marine precinct which should be included in the investigation area. An 8 m ferry utilises this site. It is an important area to Redland City and should be included.