The forum received support and encouragement from both Gold Coast City Council and from the Queensland Government’s Department of State Development. The forum’s initial meeting held in June, 2001 was attended by a substantial cross section of both large and small Gold Coast marine manufacturers and suppliers.

A meeting of Forum members held on November 19, 2001 voted to establish an association for members to be known as the Gold Coast Marine Industry Association and to accept the Forum’s objectives as those of the Association.

A committee, headed by Charles Dickson as inaugural President, was elected at the same meeting, where it was further agreed that the association would apply for Incorporation.

The association became an incorporated body on February 1, 2002.

The Association is now in its first year of operation, with over 50 participating members representing a broad cross section of large and small businesses and companies in the region’s marine industry.

With initial membership funding, plus additional financial assistance from Gold Coast City Council, the Gold Coast Marine Industry Association is now entering an exciting period of growth and development.

OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE:
For the Gold Coast marine industry to become an internationally recognised centre of excellence.

OUR OBJECTIVES:

• To assist in developing the Gold Coast marine industry as an internationally recognised centre of excellence for manufacturing and marine service.
• To seek funding to research marine industry training needs and to develop approved professional training programs that will adequately support the Gold Coast marine industry’s future staffing and managerial requirements.
• To proactively liaise with Local, State and Federal governments to overcome current and future impediments to growth impacting upon the Gold Coast marine industry.
• To develop the potential of local, interstate and overseas markets through the formation of an active marine industry cluster.
• To encourage firms, including competitors, to form alliances and where practicable, to combine capabilities to achieve success in business which would not have been possible by acting alone.
• To assist its members to develop larger local, interstate and international markets for their products and services.

THE GOLD COAST MARINE INDUSTRY:
Current statistics indicate that there are approximately 300 businesses and companies directly involved in the Gold Coast marine industry.

Collectively, these companies employ in excess of 2000 people with GCMIA members employing approximately 1800.

Over the past two years, many marine industry companies have relocated their operations to the Gold Coast City Marina complex, a state of the art facility covering over 200 acres of land adjacent to the Coomera river. This amazing complex accommodates some of the world’s leading boat builders and boasts some of the southern hemisphere’s best haulout and servicing facilities.

Gold Coast boat manufacturing facilities range from tiny, highly specialized, hand crafted timber boat builders to companies designing and constructing some of the world’s most luxurious and desirable superyachts. Between these extremes the local industry manufactures a wide range of craft including inflatibles, lightweight alloy and fiberglass runabouts, luxury express and flybridge cruisers, luxury multihulls, high performance sailboats.

Naturally, an extensive chain of suppliers supports these and other export customers. Companies manufacturing and supplying stainless steel and alloy fittings, electronic equipment, marine upholstery, chandlery, engines and a comprehensive range of marine servicing facilities.

Today, the Gold Coast boasts one of the region’s fastest growing and most technologically advanced industries. The GCMIA is striving to ensure that the pace of development continues, for the enjoyment and prosperity of all those who are associated with it.