Brisbane River commercial and tourist boats to get new 42-berth marina

• A 42-berth marina for commercial river boats to be built near the Gateway Bridge
• One of five projects to share in $15 million through Growing Future Tourism
• Generating $63 million in visitor spend and 669 ongoing jobs a year

A 42-berth marina where commercial and tourist boats can dock overnight on the Brisbane River will be built at Raptis Seafoods, Morningside near the Gateway Bridge.

The marina is one of five projects that have been awarded a share in $15 million under Round 1 of the Growing Future Tourism program.

While the facility will not provide a tourist pick up and drop off point, the marina will give Brisbane’s marine tourism operators a place to anchor after a tough few years that included the 2022 floods and displacement due to waterfront developments across the city.

The new marina is due for completion by April 2025, subject to development approvals.

Queensland Government funding for the five projects will leverage $66.6 million in private investment, supporting an estimated 313 jobs during planning and construction and 669 ongoing operational jobs.

Collectively, these projects across Queensland will attract more than 216,000 extra visitors per year, spending an additional $63 million.

The Queensland Government funding will contribute towards the overall cost of five projects, together with private funding, due to reach practical completion by 30 June 2026.

Other projects include:

• A fixed 50-metre jetty at Lindeman Island Resort.
• Crocodile Hunter Lodge Stage 4, including four two-storey eco-cabins overlooking a crocodile billabong at Australia Zoo.
• A marine tourism hub at Flinders Street Wharves, Townsville, featuring marina berths and a floating bar/restaurant.

Quotes attributable to Tourism Minister Michael Healy:

“Brisbane River tourism operators have been asking us for a home base where they could drop anchor overnight and this 42-berth marina provides that facility.

“The temporary river berthing installed by Raptis at their Morningside base has helped some operators get through a difficult period.

This new project, to be delivered by Raptis with the support of the Queensland Government, makes that space more permanent.

“The Growing Future Tourism program is delivering new tourism opportunities in Queensland.

“Projects like this, in partnership with private enterprise, will help us reach our ambitious goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure to more than $44 billion per year by 2032.”

Quotes attributable to Raptis Investments spokesperson CEO Tim Beirne:

“Raptis Investments is thrilled to be awarded funding for the development of a new commercial marina to support growth in visitor tourism activities along the Brisbane River and on Moreton Bay, under round 1 of the Queensland Government’s Growing Future Tourism Fund.

Raptis Investments is committed to the ongoing development of the tourism sector. Repurposing the Raptis Seafoods wharves not only provides certainty of tenure in home porting, but it will also encourage investment and foster new employment opportunities by both existing and new market tourism operators, to meet the rising tourist demand for coastal and aquatic experiences."

ENDS

Media contact – Peter Michael 0477 948 091