$200m for Brisbane marina to create super shipyard in superyacht boom

A proposed $200 million redevelopment of Brisbane’s Rivergate Marina in Murarrie would make the shipyard the largest superyacht refit and maintenance hub in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the Brisbane Times.

Documents lodged with Brisbane City Council show the 8.4-hectare shipyard and marina could be refurbished to include three massive sheds to house superyachts while they are repaired or refitted.

The application lodged by Rivergate Marina would be completed in several stages, with a code assessable application for the sheds and a $35 million ship lift in the Brisbane River, lodged separately to an impact assessable application for additional offices.

Rivergate director Tom Hill says the project would bring far more superyachts into Australian waters and boost Queensland jobs and tourism.

“We know that there is substantial pent-up demand among superyacht owners to visit our region, which is currently hampered by the lack of adequate lifting, repair and refit facilities,” he says. “The world is experiencing a superyacht building boom and the average size of these vessels is also increasing, so the expansion of Rivergate is ideally timed to capitalise on this growth and capture a larger share of the market for Australia.”

Hill continued, saying Brisbane was “by far the best place in Australia” for a superyacht hub, owing to its central east coast location, close links to the Brisbane Airport, deep-water access and the availability of skilled trades.

If approved by the council, the application would allow superyachts up to 90 metres in length to be brought in for work and create capacity for eight to 12 superyachts, with three new in-water berths as well as the refit sheds.

The development would also include a five-storey trade centre with offices, training rooms, crew accommodation and car parking.

The Rivergate Marine and Shipyard has 21 tenants and 320 contractors across 20 trades, with a 105-berth marina. The site is also host to the companies that build and maintain Brisbane’s CityCat ferry fleet.

Supporting reports with the application say the proposed development should lead to about 60 additional vessels visiting the site each year, most of which would be 50 metres or longer, according to the Brisbane Times.

Hill states economic research commissioned by Rivergate found the superyacht centre would generate $459.4 million annually for the local economy and that “Rivergate is already Australia’s most successful and experienced superyacht centre after servicing more than 300 vessels over the past 14 years.”

“This expansion will dramatically increase our capabilities, create the largest facility in the Asia-Pacific region capable of lifting out and servicing multiple superyachts, and put Queensland and Australia firmly on the map as a priority superyacht destination.”

The state government developed a superyacht strategy in 2018 with a target of making Queensland the Asia-Pacific region’s superyacht hub.