my local council has decided they want to upgrade and improve Apollo Bays Marina, now at first glance this is a good thing, however instead of looking at what makes a marina precinct successful, the idiots have decided that instead they'd ask the local community what they'd like to see in the precinct with the predictable result that all the boondoggles that have ever been asked for, including an indoor swimming pool as well as the banning of a hotel in the precinct, have been proposed, nowhere have I seen the need for things like a sewage pump out station, a dingy dock, a laundrette, a chandlery, or any facilities for those who work on boats, but that's O.K because the council have decided their not going to foot the bill anyway, they are going to con someone or group into paying for this, and give them a hundred year lease on the precinct. pathetic really![]()
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my question to you all is what do you think should be in a marina precinct?
my question to you all is what do you think should be in a marina precinct?
No votes from landlubbers!!
A bus station to get to the shops!
It's a small town only 5 minute walk to the shops from the harbour, except on the weekends when the tourists come through then it's a bit longer
Good news they've dropped the idea of an indoor pool. Now if they can just get enough sense to research what goes into making a successful marina, it just might become something worth investing in... Don't think that's going to happen though.
I understand where you are coming from. A marina should be designed as a fully operational marina first, then the 'fluff' designed around the marina.
But landlubbers should get a say because if the locals aren't on board I can only see one of two things happening. Either nothing gets built and everyone misses out, or only one group pays up for the lot.
I have spoken about it to one of the councillors that I know personally, however I try to stay away from council matters they tend to upset me.
travel lift ,hard stand , chandlery, sailmaker, diesel mechanic , boat covers , spars . basically 6 or seven massive factory spaces for lease . and a retail food drinks space with a view of the whole thing .
travel lift ,hard stand , chandlery, sailmaker, diesel mechanic , boat covers , spars . basically 6 or seven massive factory spaces for lease . and a retail food drinks space with a view of the whole thing .
Trouble with that is when you have all those onsite businesses, doing your own work will not be allowed.
travel lift ,hard stand , chandlery, sailmaker, diesel mechanic , boat covers , spars . basically 6 or seven massive factory spaces for lease . and a retail food drinks space with a view of the whole thing .
Trouble with that is when you have all those onsite businesses, doing your own work will not be allowed.
Surely it would be better to have them? What good is doing your own boat work if you can't get the boat out of the water, parts, advice, help or even experts to do the jobs you can't?
my question to you all is what do you think should be in a marina precinct?
Boats would be a good start , i regularly visit AB and have thought about keeping a yacht there but seems I like others have the same reservations about committing to it as a home port , the limits placed on it by its location restrict its potential IMHO.

Surely it would be better to have them? What good is doing your own boat work if you can't get the boat out of the water, parts, advice, help or even experts to do the jobs you can't?
You are talking "Catch 22". If the facilities are available but not compulsory, that is the ideal.
If a marina/hardstand facility said to me that I am not allowed to do any work and that I must employ their people, my condition is that I oversee all work and can stop any work that I deem incorrect or damaging to the vessel.
Phoenix Star has just had the experience in Townsville where the supposedly qualified tradesman attacked his propellor and shaft with a hammer. I believe Phoenix was quite within his rights to attack the worker with a hammer and beat some sense into him!!
That said, it also comes to what level of yachtsman you are. If you are a high level executive during the week and a highly competitive yacht racer on the weekend, you pay someone to do that which you lack the expertise to do and costs less per hour than what you make.
The other end of the scale is a pauper like myself who however is an MED I, Master V and AYF Offshore Yacht Master and in his later years on a partial pension.
Nobody will pay me for my expertise so I just spread it around this forum freely and hope that members gain from it.![]()
Ain't that what we all do???
i regularly visit AB and have thought about keeping a yacht there but seems I like others have the same reservations about committing to it as a home port , the limits placed on it by its location restrict its potential IMHO.
AB?? Is that Apollo Bay??
You're in Vic, I in Qld.
hi cisco , not entirely sure but feel OP is referring to apollo bay vic , his loacation is victoria , AB is currently a council owned and administered safe harbour , with planning underway but seems stalled after all where else would an indoor pool be necessary ?
Marine wise its a long way from having any where near the critical mass of boats needed to support any of the typical marina facilities / businesses discussed above.


i regularly visit AB and have thought about keeping a yacht there but seems I like others have the same reservations about committing to it as a home port , the limits placed on it by its location restrict its potential IMHO.
AB?? Is that Apollo Bay??
You're in Vic, I in Qld.
i regularly visit AB and have thought about keeping a yacht there but seems I like others have the same reservations about committing to it as a home port , the limits placed on it by its location restrict its potential IMHO.
AB?? Is that Apollo Bay??
You're in Vic, I in Qld.
unfortunately yes I'm in vic, and we are talking about Apollo Bay, you lucky bas*a*d you, I wish I was back in Bundy after having to put up with this weather we've been having lately