The Port of Townsville has agreed to the sale of a number of moorings in Ross Creek to the Townsville Motor Boat and Yacht Club (TMBYC) to facilitate the club’s marina redevelopment project which will substantially improve the standard of moorings and navigability of moorings in Ross Creek.

The TMBYC will remove 45 concrete piles and 22 buoys that are owned by the Port of Townsville and transform the space into additional berth-style moorings, increasing the number and the standard of mooring facilities in Ross Creek.

Recognising that the TMBYC marina expansion project will impact many boat owners who currently occupy moorings owned by the Port of Townsville, protections for these parties have been incorporated into the sale agreement.

Barry Holden, Port of Townsville Chief Executive Officer, said: “we have made every reasonable effort to ensure that the affected boat owners are accommodated through the marina redevelopment process, ensuring not only certainty of a mooring space for 12 months but also certainty of the mooring rental rate for the same period.”

TMBYC must provide alternative accommodation for boat owners displaced as a result of the marina expansion at the current Port of Townsville mooring rates for a minimum period of 12 months. TMBYC must also offer all displaced moorings the right to purchase a berth in the TMBYC marina, or provide suitable alternative mooring options.

The TMBYC Redevelopment Project involves expanding the existing 91 berth marina into a 165 berth marina (additional 74 berths). Importantly the standard of mooring facilities will be significantly improved (to berth style moorings), which is considered most favourable in Townsville given its susceptibility to cyclonic weather conditions.

Mr Holden said: “in recent years there has been a strong growth in demand for small boat moorings which Townsville has been unable to keep up with. It is positive to see a number of marina developments currently underway in the city and other new marina projects currently in planning stages which will significantly increase the number of moorings, the standard of moorings and also improve the efficiency of the space available.”

The Port of Townsville will continue to retain ownership of 27 buoy moorings in Ross Creek as well as the Charter Boat Marina (12 berths) and sixty moorings in Ross River for the foreseeable future. The Port will continue to examine opportunities for the transfer of these moorings to private industry who can invest in their expansion.

Other mooring facilities in Townsville include the Breakwater Marina, which is currently planning for expansion of berths, and Nelly Bay on Magnetic Island. There are also a number of additional mooring developments being planned by private enterprise.