Leading the way for local businesses

May 5, 2021

Location, location, location.

It’s an old adage but as relevant as ever. From marine-based tourism to retail and everything in between, North Harbour’s enormous opportunities have been highlighted at a gathering of top local business leaders.

North Harbour Project Director Bryan Finney underscored the importance of the project to the region in an address to local business operators attending a recent Moreton Bay Regional Council Investment Forum at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Petrie campus.

“The North Harbour Marina Precinct will deliver huge benefits for Moreton Bay, including a marine industry boom that will attract a significant portion of the country’s $68 billion annual maritime industry, in addition to being a key tourism and recreational drawcard,” Mr Finney said.

The State Government has pledged its support to make North Harbour a Priority Development Area (PDA) to fast track its growth, and Moreton Bay Regional Council has already identified it as a major part of its economic strategy for the next 20 years.

“We are leading the way towards an approval that will enable North Harbour to reach its full potential,” Mr Finney said.

Perfectly positioned 

With unparalleled potential as the only likely new marina location between Brisbane and Noosa, North Harbour benefits from superb access to the bay as well as the burgeoning northern growth corridor of the Moreton Bay region.

North Harbour is extremely well connected to Moreton Bay’s fast-growing population and business areas from Caboolture to Burpengary and Narangba, as well as other future growth areas including Caloundra South and Beerwah East.

This is supported by its exceptional access to the Bruce Highway. The Brisbane Airport is only 45 minutes away and it’s just 10 minutes from rail facilities.

So close to the bay

As far as its location for a state-of-the-art marine hub, the North Harbour marina will be only 5 kilometres along the Caboolture River to Moreton Bay, nearby islands, reefs and open water sailing.

This presents an excellent opportunity for marine based tourism as well, such as dive charters, fishing charters, bareboat or crewed yacht hire.

By comparison, much of the marine infrastructure on the Gold Coast is approximately 15 kilometres along the Coomera River and the Broadwater to reach the Gold Coast Seaway.

The hub itself will create skilled marine industry jobs and training opportunities that currently do not exist in Moreton Bay.

12 kilometres of river frontage 

The potential for major tourism and events also abounds. Showcasing 319 hectares of open space alongside the marina precinct as well as an incredible 12 kilometres frontage along the southern bank of the Caboolture River, the project will unlock land that has been in private ownership for 160 years.

To put it into perspective, the same distance along the Brisbane River would extend from the University of Queensland at St Lucia, past Suncorp Stadium, South Bank and the CBD, under the Story Bridge, and around to New Farm Park.

By the numbers

A future economic powerhouse, the graphic above illustrates North Harbour ’s contribution to jobs as part of Moreton Bay Regional Council’s plans for a Bigger, Bolder Brighter future over the next 20 years. This is backed up by studies competed by independent economic consultants Urbis.

It will also feature:   

• A 400-berth marina, as well as a shipyard/marine industry opportunity, marina village and restaurant precinct
• 2000 dwellings incorporating a variety of accommodation from apartments to townhouses and terrace homes, traditional and waterfront home sites
• A business park that will include 900 metres of highway frontage with individual lots of more than 10 hectares available
• Upon completion, the facility will provide approximately 350,000 square metres of gross floor area
• 2,500 people already call North Harbour home, ultimately rising to 12,500