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2:10 AM Sun 5 Apr 2009 GMT
 | | 'Marine Queensland general manager Don Jones and in the background, cause of the State Government’s neglect, the Southport Broadwater.'
Bob Wonders
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Marine Queensland general manager, Don Jones, has launched a broadside at Broadwater MP Peta-Kaye Croft, claiming she is 'out of touch with marine industry development in her own backyard'.
The MP, one of the State Government's younger brigade (and one of its prettier!) outraged Marine Queensland and many local marine identities when she declared that 'the Coomera-based boating industry should have realised there would be navigational problems when it decided to establish facilities on the river.'
Ms Croft had been commenting on the numerous complaints directed at the State Government over the lack of maintenance and the urgent need for large-scale dredging of the Southport Broadwater.
'To make that suggestion that the industry should have realised the problem shows just how out of touch she is,' Jones declared.
'The marine industry base (the Gold Coast Marine Precinct) at Coomera was a joint initiative of the State Government and the Gold Coast City Council.
'When it was eventually established, our industry was assured by the authorities that a river depth of 3.4-metres LAT (Lowest Astronomical Tide) was guaranteed.
'The industry is now facing significant problems simply because this so-called guarantee has never been met,' he added.
As Don Jones pointed out, the marine industry on the Queensland Gold Coast is of national significance.
'Eighty-five percent of the nation's recreational vessels are built on the Gold Coast and the industry is a major employer and a major contributor to local, state and the national economy,' he said.
'Despite submissions from the industry to the State Government nothing has been done.
'Recommendations delivered from a study by consulting engineers included immediate rehabilitation operations costing $18 million with a further dredging problem of $2 million annually for the next 20-yars to maintain navigation channels.
'For Ms Croft to suggest in anyway that dredging on the Broadwater is in any way adequate simply defies belief,' he added.
Marine Queensland, supported by Gold Coast-based manufacturers and operators, believes the lack of an appropriate dredging program is the single largest inhibitor to the future growth and development of the marine industry.
'This lack of attention to this valuable resource also greatly limits marine tourism opportunities through events such as major sailing regattas,' Jones added.
by Bob Wonders
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Double Is Pt, QLD
