• A professional and accountable management structure.
• Professionally audited financial accounts and annual reports.
• Limited liability on the part of its members.
• The ability to seek government funding to assist with development of the Association’s objectives.

OUR MEMBERSHIP:
The GCMIA’s financial membership currently stands at around 50. This represents approximately 12% of the Gold Coast’s marine industry companies and businesses, but more importantly, it also represents over 60% of the people employed within the local marine industry.

The membership base covers a broad range of marine industry enterprises, the majority of whom would be classified as leaders in their particular fields of endeavour.

TRAINING NEEDS ANALYSIS:
The explosion of new marine industry business and company startups on the Gold Coast, combined with a steady migration of existing business operations relocating to the region has created severe labour shortages. The Gold Coast Marine Industry Association, in conjunction with Gold Coast City Council sought Federal Government funding to undertake a professional Training Needs Analysis study of the marine industry. This study was completed on October 31, 2002.

The study’s findings, together with recommendations for immediate and future training needs, were presented to State and Federal government representatives on November 6, 2002 and as a result, new government funded training facilities specialising in marine industry trades are scheduled to open in early 2005.

OUR WEB SITE:
The Gold Coast Marine Industry Association web site was facilitated with financial assistance provided by Gold Coast City Council’s Department of Economic Development. This web site is providing a cost-effective ‘window to the world’, through which we can showcase our dynamic and rapidly developing marine industry.

DREDGING:
The Association has successfully negotiated with the Queensland Government’s Department of Transport to have maintenance dredging undertaken in the North Channel of the Broadwater and the lower reaches of the Coomera River. This dreading was completed prior to December 2005 at a cost of $3 million. Further dredging of the Coomera River in the vicinity of the Coomera Marine Precinct is urgently required.

TRADE MISSION:
In conjunction with the Gold Coast City Council, the following marine industry trade missions have been undertaken since 2004:
October 2004 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
April 2005 Dubai International Boat Show
May 2005 Shanghai International Boat Show
October 2005 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
April 2006 Dubai International Boat Show
October 2006 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

These trade missions have assisted Gold Coast boat builders and component manufacturers to dramatically increase the volume of export sales from around A$180 million to approximately A$300 million within the past two years.

MARKETING:
The Association, in conjunction with Gold Coast City Council, produced a 23 minute promotional DVD profiling the Gold Coast’s marine industry. This DVD is an excellent marketing tool for exhibition stand or corporate use.