
Gold Coast Marine Sector


VALUE ADDED
The Gold Coast Marine Sector generated $682 million in output and $253 million in value added in 2019/20.
This represented 13.3% of the total state Marine Sector output and 2.7% of the nation's.
Value in the sector has grown by 38% since 2012, or 4.1% per annum.
This is above average growth with the total Gold Coast economy only growing by 3.3% per annum over the same period.
In 2019/20, 63% ($160M) of value was generated by ship and boat building and repair activities.
This represented almost half (49%) the state's output in this area.
EXPORTS
The Gold Coast Marine Sector generated $335 million in exports in 2019/20.
This represented 15% of QLD's total Marine Sector exports. However, Gold Coast's share of international exports was even higher (24%)
In 2019/20, 82% ($274M) of export value was generated by ship and boat building and repair activities.
This represented the majority (93%) of the state's exports in this area.
Total export value has grown substantially by 87% in the last three years.
This was driven by international exports that has doubled from $78M in 2016/17 to $158M in 2019/20.
LOCAL JOBS
The Gold Coast Marine Sector is the second largest in the State, supporting over 2,300 jobs - 17% of QLD's total. On a national level, it is the 7th largest.
No 1
Location for Boatbuilding and Repair Services jobs in Australia
Local marine sector jobs have grown by almost 300, or 13% since 2012 (1.5% per annum).
This is below the average Gold Coast jobs growth (2.8% p.a.) but recent years (pre-COVID) saw an increase.
BUSINESSES
In 2020, almost half (41%) of registered businesses were in ship and boat building and repair activities.
Another 15% were in retail activities.
Registered business numbers have slowly declined since 2012, led by falls in marine equipment retailing.
Despite a fall in business numbers, employment has grown suggesting growth in businesses that have survived.
WORKFORCE PROFILE
The Gold Coast Marine Sector workforce is generally characterised by male middle aged workers in full-time technical based occupations with engineering/construction based qualifications.
40
years
old
Median Age
Male
85%
Female
15%
29% Born o/s
83% Full-Time
$53,000
Median Income
GEOGRAPHY
In 2016, Coomera had an estimated 1,142 workers in the Marine Sector, just over half (54%) the Gold Coast total. The majority (90%) were working in ship and boat building.
BOATBUILDING FOCUS
The Gold Coast contains the largest number of specialised workers in the boatbuilding industry in Australia with particular expertise in recreational and luxury crafts.
The industry's total contribution to the Gold Coast is over $600m in sales and 3,000+ jobs once flow on impacts are counted
Major Players at the Gold Coast Marine Precinct
Riviera Australia
Riviera Australia is a 40 year old business located in Coomera. It builds luxury yachts from 36 to 77 feet in length, including sport yachts, SUV yachts, flybridge models and other motor yachts.
According to IbisWorld, Riviera Australia grew its workforce by 143.5 per cent in 2018/19, to reach 280 employees.



