Maryborough marine facilities to be boosted, big time

by Jeni Bone on 1 Dec 2011 It has been on the drawing board for more than a decade and fallen short of capital over that period, but now a
$40 million marine industry park at Maryborough on the Queensland Fraser Coast (255km north of Brisbane) may finally move forward after receiving the support of the state government.

The world-class facility planned for the Mary River at Walkers Point is one of three projects ear-marked for specialist case management through the major projects office, minister for local government, Paul Lucas announced this week.

The 65-hectare, 80-berth Port Maryborough Marine Industrial Park will provide for the manufacture and repair of boats, light ships and marine machinery, capitalising on the city's engineering expertise and established marine precinct.

It was proposed as a joint venture between the state government, the local council and private industry, and the former Maryborough City Council made amendments to the city plan in 2002 so the precinct could be built.

But the ambitious project has been in limbo for about five years, with little information released about its progress until Mr Lucas’s announcement.

The state government's endorsement means the marine park will have streamlined approval processes, and the major projects office will act as a single point of contact to help speed the project along.

'These developments will obtain the help they need to get underway faster and, in turn, assist Queensland by providing infrastructure where it is most needed,' the Minister said.

The Maryborough project, together with a $196 million housing development at Beenleigh and a $100 million tourism accommodation project at Rockhampton, would create more than 860 jobs and provide a boost to the Queensland economy.

'The major projects office was established to fast-track development approval processes and stimulate the building industry, and that's exactly what is happening.'

Up to 100 construction and operational jobs for the Fraser Coast region could be created by the Maryborough project.

In October, the Queensland-based MSF Sugar Limited was given the green light by the Queensland government for its $500 million hotel, marina and resort and residential development at Granville on the outskirts of Maryborough.

MSF Sugar is seeking a joint venture partner to undertake the waterfront project. MSF is now awaiting approval of a Development Application currently with the Fraser Coast Regional Council, and is hoping to secure the approval within 12 months.

The project, known as Mary Harbour, has been on the drawing board for the last four years and was awaiting the completion of the Queensland Government’s Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan.

The gazetting of the regional plan permits the 179-hectare Mary River site to be rezoned for urban use. The area has been included in Maryborough’s Urban Footprint within the Regional Plan.

MSF CEO Mike Barry said the release of the Regional Plan cleared a major hurdle in the progress of the development, which will ultimately accommodate 1300 new homes, a 300-berth marina and beach-style swimming lagoon.

'This is a significant step in the plans for the re-development of this site into a project that will become an outstanding asset for Maryborough and the surrounding community,' said Mr Barry.

'We are very keen to proceed with the project and we will now focus our attention on securing the appropriate partners while it is under consideration by council.'

The site of the proposed development has two kilometres of frontage to the Mary River, which provides boat access to the Fraser Coast. The site has the capacity for 1300 new residential dwellings currently not available in Maryborough.

The man-made harbour will have 300 wet marina berths, boardwalks and access to the Mary River.

The project will have the capacity to become home to approximately 3500 people.

Funds from the development will be reinvested back into the company’s core sugar business.

MSF Sugar General Manager Property Dennis Kaye said the project would take an estimated 10-12 years to develop and provide 3700 project related jobs, deliver infrastructure to help meet projected growth and generate an estimated $1 billion in direct and indirect economic activity for the region (including the $500m development and construction cost).

Maryborough’s population is expected to double by 2031. The proposal will see the creation of the largest masterplanned community ever developed in Maryborough, one of Queensland’s oldest cities.

Maryborough has a population of more than 25,000, is located three hours north of Brisbane and only than 30 minutes drive from Hervey Bay, which has direct flights from Brisbane and Sydney.