Oceans of opportunity for diving

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Located close to some of southeast Queensland’s most spectacular underwater sites, the proposed North Harbour marina and recreational precinct will offer fantastic opportunities for amateur scuba enthusiasts right through to professional dive operators.

With the $2.74 billion precinct incorporating a 400-berth marina as well as a substantial village, it lends itself to a multitude of tourism opportunities.

Here’s a selection of what’s on North Harbour’s doorstep for scuba enthusiasts:

The Wrecks: Offering great diving from two to 10 metres deep, The Wrecks comprises a cluster of sunken vessels on the western side of Moreton Island – only a short trip from North Harbour.

The ships were scuttled by the State Government from 1963 to provide a safe anchorage spot for recreational boat owners.

Now home to an amazing array of marine life, including over 100 species of fish such as wobbegongs, yellowtail, trevally and kingfish, The Wrecks are just waiting to be explored.

The Aarhus: The wreck of the Aarhus not only provides some sensational scenery, it has an intriguing history to match.

The three-mast ship sank in 1894 after setting sail from New York with a cargo of kerosene, glassware, alarm clocks and general merchandise.

The Aarhus carried a cargo of kerosene, glassware, wire bails and alarm clocks, with some of those timber artifacts under the sand still preserved by the kerosene they were drenched in.

The vessel struck a rock and the crew of 15 as well as the captain’s wife made for Moreton Island in lifeboats, where they landed safely.

Partially buried in the sand, the Aarhus accommodates a variety of species including pufferfish, sweetlips, sponges, wobbegongs, stingrays, lionfish, gropers and schools of cardinal fish.

Only accessible with a permit, this is a site for advanced divers.

The Cementco: A popular dive site, the wreck was a  67-metre hopper barge that worked in Brisbane’s Moreton Bay for many years transporting fossilised coral to be used in cement production.

Located upside down in 25 metres of water off Cape Moreton, its rusting hull provides shelter for reef fish as well as attracting trevally, batfish, mackerel and barracuda.

Cherub’s Cave: Often described as one of the Brisbane region’s best dive sites, Cherubs Cave is located on the exposed east side of Moreton Island.

A cave surrounded by rocky gullies, this site is for experienced divers. In winter, divers converge on Cherub’s Cave to see the  grey nurse sharks. They also get to enjoy watching large schools of fish and abundant marine life including turtles.

China Wall: Popular in winter when the conditions are calmer, China Wall is also located on the eastern side of Moreton Island.

At this time of the year, divers can also be lucky enough to be serenaded by humpback whales as they cruise past on their annual migration.

The site features caves, gutters, walls and a tall vertical outcrop.

The area is covered with a thick layer of kelp. Although it provides protection for crayfish,  lobsters and the like, it can also make navigation for divers challenging.

 

To find out more about our plans for North Harbour, register your details via the contact form.

Winter highlights the magic of Moreton Bay

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With winter almost upon us, Moreton Bay is set to come into its own as a paradise for anglers.

The cooler months bring snapper, tailor and tuna out to play – and as an added bonus, the calm, glassy conditions of this time of the year highlight the magic of the region – with North Harbour’s proposed marine precinct ideally placed cater for anglers in future.

Indeed, watching the unveiling of a vast, seemingly motionless  expanse of blue connect with the horizon as the sun rises is one of the true joys of being out on the water.

With our plans to create a new marina and world-class waterfront destination at North Harbour, getting to experience all the region has to offer is about to become even better.

 

Where to wet a line

While the fishing is great all year round, the waters close to North Harbour are especially good right now.

The colder temperatures and stable tidal flows produce consistent numbers of snapper, and when it comes to tailor, finding the feeding schools is relatively easy in the glassy conditions.

Enthusiasts are spoilt for choice as it’s just a quick trip across to Moreton Island with its numerous coffee-rock ledges, drop-offs and artificial reefs supporting an abundance of species.

Alternatively, just to the north is Bribie Island – another favourite – while in the other direction, Redcliffe is a great location for both boaties and land-based fishos with the southern channel of Hayes Inlet especially good for bream and flathead.

According to local fishing expert Tony Lincoln, the owner of Hornibrook Bait & Tackle, winter is one of those times of the year when anglers can “cast a country mile” with the traditional westerly winds at their backs.

“When the westerlies blow, you will usually get the first few hundred metres out to sea looking like a sheet of glass,” said Mr Lincoln.

“These conditions make winter a favourite time for being out on the bay.

“Anywhere around Moreton is popular.”

 

More ways to enjoy the bay

While land-based fishing has its joys, there’s nothing like the thrill of getting offshore.

As the North Harbour Marina Precinct develops, we envisage it will be an ideal location for charter operators to base their business.

It’s just one of the ways the project will provide more opportunity for everyone to enjoy the wonderful natural asset on our doorstep.

 

To find out more about what’s planned for North Harbour, register your details via the contact form.

Leading the way for local businesses

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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

 

To find out more about what’s planned for North Harbour, register your details via the contact form.