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Boat Works' northern superyacht precinct development on the Gold Coast has its new 'dry marina' now operational as the first stage of a $100 million upgrade due for completion in October this year.
Works for the Longhurst family's ambitious venture in Coomera only started seven months ago and will effectively double the facility to 52 hectares.
Stages 2 & 3 of the project are now underway for a marina that is expected to rival nearby Sanctuary Cove including new berths and a waterfront village with boutique stores and restaurants.
Boat Works CEO Tony Longhurst claims once the development is officially launched in early 2020 it will be the largest marina and shipyard in the southern hemisphere.
The project will provide storage for up to 200 boats up to 100 feet long, providing a convenient pitstop for migrating yachts cruising the east coast from southern states to the Great Barrier Reef.
The new premises complement the existing yard that is operating at capacity, with a current haul out rate of 50 vessels per week using three specialist lifts - the 70 and 100 tonne travel lifts and the 45-tonne submersible hydraulic Sealift for wide-bodied multihulls.
The new berths are also expected to benefit an array of boat brands, dealers and brokers based at existing site, among them Alexander Marine Australia, Multihull Solutions, Clipper, Cobalt and Yachtsmen International.
"This is an exciting time for the marine industry, particularly in the Coomera Marine Precinct," says Tony Longhurst.
"The Boat Works' new superyacht precinct will create up to 2,000 jobs along with the flow on effect of increased work for trades in the region.
"Our vision is to attract more of these high-yielding superyachts to the Gold Coast and 'grow the pie' for everybody at every level of the marine industry, tourism, hospitality and the broader community."
The company highlights the Gold Coast Waterways Authority is committed to "dredging in perpetuity" to ensure optimal water depth for the Coomera River where the marina is located, and Boat Works will be equipped to welcome superyachts by the end of 2019.
Longhurst is also aiming to build the "greenest and cleanest" shipyard and marina in the world, with plans including landscaped bio-gardens, a solar panel array and sophisticated water recycling systems he claims will ensure no air or waterborne pollution into the Coomera River or surrounding soil.
Longhurst's brother Rodney owns and operates luxury boatbuilder Riviera just a few doors down the road, while his father John developed the theme park Dreamworld.
The project's announcement last year coincided with a $100 million project slated by the Gay family's Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (GCCM) to develop an adjacent 20-hectare site, which would double the facility's size.
"This project is an exciting coup for the Gold Coast's ever-expanding marine industry which is developing a global reputation for being a leading destination for marine refit and repair within the Asia Pacific region," GCCM CEO Trenton Gay said at the time.
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