Looking for work in the Marine Industry?

by Bob Wonders on 15 Jun 2007 Described by the Queensland State Government as ‘booming’, the marine industry throughout South East Queensland, particularly along the famed tourist strip, the Gold Coast, is doing it tough. Not tough when it comes to selling boats, but tough when it comes to producing them.

Simply put, the industry lacks people, more specifically people qualified, able or willing to work in the boating industry.

I recently produced a Powerboat-world.com feature on the Gold Coast Marine Precinct. Everyone I spoke with, not most, everyone, lamented the lack of available workers.

Murray Owen, of Marine Engineering Consultants, told me he could place five diesel engineers 'right now' if he could find them; Paul Wrench, facilities manager for Iain Murray’s Azzura Yachts, said if 10 boat builders were to knock on his door looking for work, he’d be a very happy man.

It’s the same story everywhere; jobs available, people to fill them not available.

For those not familiar with the Gold Coast Marine Precinct, it stands unchallenged as the marine industry’s showpiece.

It is situated at Coomera, on the northern end of the Gold Coast, offering easy access to the Coomera and Nerang Rivers, several major marina developments, including Gold Coast City Marina and Sanctuary Cove, and the nearby M1 expressway.

Since its establishment seven years ago, the precinct has created nearly 4000 jobs, a figure the Gold Coast City Council says could conservatively rise by 1000 or more in an instant.

The precinct is home to many of the industry’s best-known names; The Riviera Group, Mercury Marine, Maritimo, Quintrex, Azzura Marine, Blackline Shipping, MTU Detroit, International Paints, Leigh Smith Cruiser Sales, Lightwave Catamarans and King Catamarans, to name but a few.

More than $200 million has been invested in precinct infrastructure, while more than $300 million is being spent by private enterprise on further expansion.

State Government estimates are that export income to the tune of $300 million annually is generated by the precinct.

Three men who have really put their mark on the precinct are Maritimo CEO Bill Barry-Cotter, Gold Coast City Marina chairman Patrick Gay and managing director Geoff Leigh-Smith.

It was Barry-Cotter, then CEO of The Riviera Group, together with Gay and Leigh-Smith who made the largest initial impact, closely followed by Paul Phelan’s Telwater, manufacturer of the Quintrex and Stacer ranges.

It is generally agreed that each of these highly successful operations would be even more dominant in their respective fields if there was an employment talent pool to call on.

Charles Dickson, president of the Gold Coast Marine Industry Association, said the shortage of staff was 'across the board' and covering a wide multitude of skills.

'Shipwrights and boat builders, fibreglass gun operators, stainless steel welders, marine electricians, diesel engineers, marine mechanics, there’s a need for people in all these areas,' he said.

Mr Dickson said the buoyant Queensland mining industry was a major factor in the marine industry’s problem.

'Electricians, welders and diesel engineers in particular are attracted by higher earning potential within the mining industry and that’s a problem we simply can’t overcome,' he explained.

'It’s also worth pointing out that this is not a problem purely for South East Queensland or the Gold Coast; it’s worldwide.

'The marine industry in Australia has lost workers to places like Fort Lauderdale, to New Zealand, where there’s a very buoyant boat manufacturing industry and to yards throughout South East Asia.

'The Department of State Development, to its credit, is looking at ways and means to combat the problem, but there’s no easy or quick fix,' he added.

Some government and industry committees have recommended attempts be made to attract more women to the boating industry.

Many women are already employed, and even though many sectors are viewed as ‘male dominated’ I have encountered female shipwrights, fibreglass gun operators, wood workers and upholsterers, all capable people holding down important jobs.

One move which may help end the ‘talent drought’ in the long term is the establishment of a new training centre within the precinct.

To be known as the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE (Technical and Further Education) Marine Precinct Training Centre, it should be open by the end of 2007.

Ms Deb Daly, Gold Coast TAFE Institute director, said training at the new centre would be available for new arrivals to the boat building and associated industries as well as existing workers seeking to upgrade their skills.
In addition to training potential ship yard workers, the centre will also deliver training for marina and shipping services, including tickets for Deckhands, Coxswains and Masters.

Ms Daly said there was potential for industry training to be increased from the current 700 students a year to more than 2000 a year by 2010.

'The new Marine Industry Training Centre will directly target the skilling of boat builders and through partnerships with industry we will build the skills program to a point where it will equal world’s best standard,' she declared.

Queensland’s Minister for State Development, John Mickel, admitted that access to skilled workers was an ongoing issue for the marine industry.

He said the State Government was determined to address the problem.
'I can assure the local industry that the State Government is behind it 100 percent – a strong marine industry is good for the Gold Coast and it’s good for Queensland,' he said.