New marina for the Sunshine Coast anchors major benefits for boaties and businesses

A multimillion-dollar marina, and the first on the Sunshine Coast in more than 30 years, is ready to be constructed at Pelican Waters.

It comes as Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson today (March 23) joined Pelican Waters Marina Properties to turn the first sod at the precinct which will soon set sail to become a fully serviced marina and boat-stacking facility.

Mayor Jamieson praised Pelican Waters Marina Properties for further enhancing the region’s reputation as an ideal location for exceptional lifestyle opportunities and said the project would generate a real buzz in the boating community.

“Pelican Waters Marina will add even more reasons to visit this amazing part of our spectacular region,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“With an initial $15 million capital build, the project is forecast to inject $41 million* into the economy during the construction and ongoing operations and is estimated to generate 61 local jobs annually.

“These numbers will grow as business opportunities are created on site through various new marine services such as shipwright and repairs, marine mechanics and electricians, canvasers and trimmers, chandlery and a café operator.”

Pelican Waters Marina will offer the Sunshine Coast’s very first state-of-the-art dry-boat storage for up to 160 vessels, 126 wet berths, a fully equipped chandlery and full-service marine yard.

The joint venture project between Pelican Waters Heart (the developer of Pelican Waters) and Marine Holdings Australia (who will operate the marina), will be complemented by a waterside town centre style precinct known as Marina Village, featuring retail and medical services.

Director Les Binkin said he was pleased to have been able to engage local Sunshine Coast businesses to work on the project - The Jetty Specialist to build the marina and berths and QTM Enterprises Pty Ltd to build the land facility, which will include a café and business tenancies.

Aligning with Sunshine Coast Council’s environmental and sustainably visions, one of the most important outcomes from this investment for the region is the benefits to our iconic Pumicestone Passage.

The marina will implement a specialised sewerage pump-out system for boats, provide a specialised boatyard for marine repairs in accordance with best practice to manage waste and runoff, and offer marine berths rather than boats on swing moorings in the Pumicestone Passage, which would impact on sea grass and other aquatic plants due to anchor damage.

As well, a much-needed speciality and safe refueling station will also be a huge drawcard for boaties traversing the southern end of our waters.

Pelican Waters General Manager of Development Hamish Pressland said the new marina and Marina Village marked the most significant transformation of Pelican Waters to date and added another key asset to both the local and regional communities on the Sunshine Coast.

“There is little doubt this highly anticipated marina project will reshape the way we live, work and play on the Sunshine Coast as the first dedicated facility of this scope and calibre for the region in many decades,’’ Mr Pressland said.

Site work on the marina component has started with the facility expected to open in late 2022.

Marina enquiries at www.pelicanwatersmarina.com.au

*Economic impact modelling is sourced by National Institute of Economic an Industry Research (NIER) 2021. Compiled and presented in economy.id by .id (informed decisions).