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The Scarborough Marina Debarcle

23/2/2020

In the last few days news has broken about the Scarborough Marina closing which is currently operated by Compass Marina Australia. Now this is all available information that I found on Google but it did take some digging. I apologize in advance for the length of this post but it was unavoidable.

I want to make it clear from the outset that this is just a lot of information that I found on google without asking the people in the know what is really going on. Why have I not tried to confirm any of this… It is simple really, I do not believe I would be told the truth. Past performance tells me they wouldn’t tell us anything until it is too late and if they do tell us anything substantial now it is only because an election is looming but I like to call a spade a spade so here is what I have found.

This is a quote on the Compass Marina Website - Compass Marina was established in 2010 with the vision of creating Redcliffe’s premier modern maritime facility, as well as revitalising a previously under-utilised precinct of the beautiful Scarborough Precinct. The complex is an ongoing project, with future stages planned.

Next I found the Port of Brisbane’s Annual Report 2009/2010. If you have a read of the entire document you can see more about what their vision for the future was back then. This is found on page 30 but there is more mention of the marina throughout the document. http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Documents/TableOffice/TabledPapers/2009/5309T1196.pdf

At Scarborough Boat Harbour, our goal for the year was to see the completion of the new Redcliffe Marina by Compass Marinas. The development is to include approximately 130 new marina berths, a retail kiosk and community building, marina amenities, and a boat shed and marina administration facility for a non-profit youth foundation (the H4 Foundation). The proposed development is quite complex – involving tidal, landside and dredging works – and is therefore subject to an extensive planning approval and consultation process involving multiple agencies. For these reasons, we are disappointed to report that Compass Marinas were not able to secure the necessary approvals to have the facility completed by June 2009.

Next I would like to draw your attention to a recently announced strategic plan made by the Moreton Maritime Alliance that makes mention of the Scarborough Marina and others within the Moreton Bay Area. This doesn’t exactly tell you what the planned upgrades are but it does say they are approved and coming, just doesn’t tell us what or when.

Moreton Maritime Alliance Strategic Plan - https://www.moretonmaritime.com.au/vision-strategic-plan?fbclid=IwAR0W7J_FFgveV9CA8MWOG_lRqcoXfJrZC0IxBlMbI8aitfdC7tEni1ZHEHM

News articles say Compass Marinas have been in a battle with the state government over rent costs but I wonder if there is more to the story now that I have read all this information. In the Port of Brisbane’s 2009/2010 Annual Report it makes mention that Compass Marina was unable to secure approvals for upgrade back then. So I am wondering if they really do owe back rent or this is a battle because they could not gain approvals for upgrades back then? Or has there now been an approved application for a major upgrade of this facility and for whatever reason Compass Marinas can no longer uphold their end of the deal which is why it is closing? All valid questions but I doubt anyone wants to answer them.

This is the article in the Redcliffe & Bayside Herald, published on on 20/02/2020 is about the marina closing after an 8 year legal battle - https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/moreton/tenants-given-weeks-to-find-a-new-berth-for-their-vessels/news-story/0109c5c71e22a21134d2fdba866ca171

Now this is where I find it gets interesting. Redcliffe & Bayside Herald wrote this article on the 4/10/2019 about Uni Students who came up with a state of the art maritime facility on the Scarborough Marina Land. I have to say it does look pretty amazing, the Moreton Bay Region has some world class educational facilities available so this would be a great addition in the future if done with minimal to no environmental impacts - “The plans include hotels, ocean baths, maritime museums, community buildings, ocean and wildlife research centres, ferry terminals and boat building facilities.”
https://www.couriermail.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=CMWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.couriermail.com.au%2Fquestnews%2Fmoreton%2Funi-students-come-up-with-project-worth-1-billion-to-spruce-up-beachside-town%2Fnews-story%2Ff996a3a80ad8c2574292bb5698b3e36a&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=0bdcf3349e429738ac2873f7c5499109-1582357008&v21suffix=61-b`

This tends to be in line with the information in the PoB’s Annual Report 2009/2010 as well as everything else I have found while researching. I am not saying this is why they are closing nor am I saying this kind of development will happen but there is a lot of secrecy around this closure and no one is talking.

The only thing we do know is that the State Government are pushing hard of growth in this region which is to be expected but poorly managed progress has to stop. It’s time we use a little common sense and a lot of foresight before saying yes to developments. So have a read of all the links I have included and do some research yourself because this coming election will be a game changer in our region.

#ScarboroughMarina #Tellustherealtruth #Timeforchange #MBRC #CheriePorterMBRCMayor2020

Authorised by C. Porter Redcliffe

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The Scarborough Marina Debarcle

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