9:33 PM Tue 14 Jul 2009 GMT
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'Empire Marina Bobbin Head'
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It's good to know in advance that the marina you about to use has a good reputation, and two marinas - adjacent to each other geographically - have won the title of 'Australian Marina of the Year' in their own class for 2009. The Marina Industries Association of Australia (MIAA) has voted the two privately owned and family run greater Sydney businesses as the best in the nation.
Empire Marina
's 200-berth marina at historic Bobbin Head in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park won the category for large marinas, 85 berths and over. The second category, marinas 85 berths and under, was won by Fenwicks Marina, Brooklyn.
The winners, chosen from a competitive nationwide field to win the prestigious award, underwent a demanding evaluation process for selection. The MIAA Executive Officer Colin Bransgrove described the rigorous application and exhaustive assessment as a wonderful opportunity to review and assess business performance.
The MIAA judging panel selected Empire Marina Bobbin Head ahead of finalists from as far afield as Western Australia and Queensland. 'Empire Marina Bobbin Head is a first-class marina in a highly sensitive and pristine National Park. The marina infrastructure has been developed with the highest level of consideration for the environment,' said awards judge Tom Chapman.
Empire Marina Bobbin Head, 24 klm north of Sydney CBD, works closely with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and delivers superior vessel repair and marine maintenance services to its clients while maintaining its clean, green marina status.
The EPA considers the marina an 'environmental leader amongst the greater Sydney Metropolitan marina vessel repair operations.'
Empire Marina Bobbin Head has completed an eighteen-month re-development of the historic Bobbin Head Boatshed, formerly owed by the Halvorsen family. The Halvorsen's name is synonymous with pleasure boating for Sydneysiders and, as Darren Vaux, Director of Empire Marina Bobbin Head stated,
'Wining Australian Marina of the Year confirms our company stance and attitude. Our objective in purchasing and redeveloping the marina from Halvorsen's was to create a facility that exceeded customer expectations. This award further motivates us to work harder and stay at the top.'
National recognition confirms investor confidence in the marina and Empire Marina Bobbin Head has already sold 15 of 25 berths released for sale. The berths range in price from $190,000 to $950,000 with some buyers stating that capital growth in berths was outstripping traditional forms of investment in their portfolios.
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Fenwicks Marina Brooklyn - .. .
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Maybe the quality standards are rubbing off? ...because winner of the smaller marina category,
Fenwicks Marina
, is also a family owned business and one that has operated from Brooklyn for over 20 years. The family's association with the marine industry dates back to 1870 when then brothers John & Thomas Fenwick commenced the first marine towing service in Port Jackson. Fenwicks is now associated with a number of marine ventures. In 1985, Doug and his son Andrew commenced construction of their marina, which incorporates 55 wet berths, car parking, administration and workshops. Fenwicks provides full time employment for some 25 employees and tenants. It has a large purpose built hardstand capable of holding up to 14 vessels ranging in size from runabouts to 20-metre cruisers and catering for all facets of repair and maintenance making it a boater's one stop shop.
'It is the enthusiastic response in which Fenwicks service their clientele and the presentation of the marina that makes it a credit to Andrew and his team,' MIAA judge Tom Chapman said.
Managing Director Andrew Fenwick acknowledged the incredible effort and support his staff and tenants have made to assist the business achieve this award and this would only spur them on to continue to strive to meet their customer expectations.
Others deserving of recognition:
Award of Excellence Finalist in category one (85 berths and over) went to Hillarys Boat Harbour, Tin Can Bay Marina and Soldiers Point Marina. The finalist in category two was d'Albora Marinas Victoria. Harbour.
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