COURSE SET TO HELP MACKAY-WHITSUNDAY CAPITALISE ON SUPER YACHT SERVICING MARKET
Published Monday, 18 June, 2007 at 09:15 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
The Mackay and Whitsunday region will be developed as a powerhouse for super yacht servicing and maintenance thanks to $80,000 in Queensland Government funding.
Minister for State Development John Mickel said the Whitsunday Development Corporation (WDC) was awarded the grant to devise and implement plans for future growth in the super yacht market over the next two years.
“WDC is working with the Mackay Whitsunday Super Yacht Cluster and major marina investors on the project,” Mr Mickel said.
“In the first 12 months they’ll concentrate on rolling out a development plan outlining the strengths, opportunities and actions needed to improve the local super yacht supply chain –
comprising firms across the marine, manufacturing and tourism sectors – and its capabilities to service super yachts.”
Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt said a new marketing strategy will be developed later on to promote Mackay and the Whitsundays as a premier destination for travelling super yacht owners and crew who need their boats serviced and maintained in the region.
“The aim is to then merge these promotional activities into broader national and Queensland marketing initiatives with groups such as the Great Barrier Reef Super Yacht cluster and Super Yacht Base Australia. This will help build the region’s national and overseas presence,”Ms Jarratt said.
WDC executive officer Rebecca Andrews said the strategies would help capitalise on the major opportunities super yachts presented for Mackay and the Whitsundays.
“The Whitsundays’ reputation as a marine tourism destination added with Mackay’s established industrial base, with the capacity to provide world-class services such as refitting and engine maintenance, is a competitive combination,” Ms Andrews said.
“WDC will look at how the region’s currently meeting the needs of super yachts, and benchmark the destination against others internationally and overseas, such as the Caribbean, for example.
“Outlining the economic importance of super yachts for our area is also a priority. We know they bring many benefits but there is currently no way of measuring that.
“We basically want to take advantage of more opportunities, become better in the services offered, and continue to work with other places around the country in promoting Australia’s super yacht excellence.”
Mr Mickel said the project would build off the $1.3 billion investment in marina development for the Mackay and Whitsunday region planned over the next five years, which was expected to double existing super yacht berthing capacity.
“Super yachts are a particular growth sector being targeted for development by the Queensland Government,” Mr Mickel said.
“The international super yacht fleet today numbers well over 7,000 and with our growing capacity to build, service and refit these vessels along the coast, Queensland is becoming an attractive alternative destination to the Caribbean and Mediterranean.”
For more information contact: Ms Rebecca Andrews, Executive Officer, Whitsunday Development Corporation Inc. 2/5 Carlo Drive, Cannonvale, 4946 1877, eo@whitsundaydevelopment.com.au
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
June 18, 2007
Minister for State Development John Mickel said the Whitsunday Development Corporation (WDC) was awarded the grant to devise and implement plans for future growth in the super yacht market over the next two years.
“WDC is working with the Mackay Whitsunday Super Yacht Cluster and major marina investors on the project,” Mr Mickel said.
“In the first 12 months they’ll concentrate on rolling out a development plan outlining the strengths, opportunities and actions needed to improve the local super yacht supply chain –
comprising firms across the marine, manufacturing and tourism sectors – and its capabilities to service super yachts.”
Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt said a new marketing strategy will be developed later on to promote Mackay and the Whitsundays as a premier destination for travelling super yacht owners and crew who need their boats serviced and maintained in the region.
“The aim is to then merge these promotional activities into broader national and Queensland marketing initiatives with groups such as the Great Barrier Reef Super Yacht cluster and Super Yacht Base Australia. This will help build the region’s national and overseas presence,”Ms Jarratt said.
WDC executive officer Rebecca Andrews said the strategies would help capitalise on the major opportunities super yachts presented for Mackay and the Whitsundays.
“The Whitsundays’ reputation as a marine tourism destination added with Mackay’s established industrial base, with the capacity to provide world-class services such as refitting and engine maintenance, is a competitive combination,” Ms Andrews said.
“WDC will look at how the region’s currently meeting the needs of super yachts, and benchmark the destination against others internationally and overseas, such as the Caribbean, for example.
“Outlining the economic importance of super yachts for our area is also a priority. We know they bring many benefits but there is currently no way of measuring that.
“We basically want to take advantage of more opportunities, become better in the services offered, and continue to work with other places around the country in promoting Australia’s super yacht excellence.”
Mr Mickel said the project would build off the $1.3 billion investment in marina development for the Mackay and Whitsunday region planned over the next five years, which was expected to double existing super yacht berthing capacity.
“Super yachts are a particular growth sector being targeted for development by the Queensland Government,” Mr Mickel said.
“The international super yacht fleet today numbers well over 7,000 and with our growing capacity to build, service and refit these vessels along the coast, Queensland is becoming an attractive alternative destination to the Caribbean and Mediterranean.”
For more information contact: Ms Rebecca Andrews, Executive Officer, Whitsunday Development Corporation Inc. 2/5 Carlo Drive, Cannonvale, 4946 1877, eo@whitsundaydevelopment.com.au
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
June 18, 2007