Marina boost to River Murray economy 30 October 2008

Minister for Urban Development and Planning Paul Holloway and Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald today released a proposed houseboat marina strategy to give a much-needed shot in the arm to the economy along South Australia’s major waterway.

The draft Houseboat, Mooring and Marina Strategy for the River Murray in South Australia seeks to improve the health of the river while supporting and enhancing tourism, the Ministers said in releasing the document for public comment.

Minister Holloway says South Australia’s houseboat industry is estimated to generate more than $60 million a year into the State’s economy, both directly and through flow-ons to associated service industries.

“South Australia’s houseboat industry relies for its economic survival on retaining the character and natural environment of the River Murray,” Minister Holloway says.

“A healthy, working River Murray is essential for the future viability of this important industry and the aim of this strategy is to protect and enhance the river environment while encouraging investment.”
 
Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald says the marina strategy will encourage job creation and investment in rural South Australia at a critical time when farming communities along the River Murray remain stressed by the worst drought in a century.

“Protecting, enhancing and restoring the health of the River Murray is a high priority for this State,” Minister Maywald says.

“This proposed strategy is designed to encourage tourism-enhancing marina developments along the River Murray without compromising the environmental integrity of the river system.”

Key elements of the strategy include:

  • Encouraging the development of off-river marinas to provide home ports for all houseboats
  • Provision of site suitability criteria to ascertain the best locations for such marinas
  • Trialling a formal mooring network for touring houseboats to minimise river damage

In keeping with the strategy, the State Government announced today conditional approval of a new residential marina development at Mannum in the mid-Murray.

Minister Holloway says approval of the residential marina project proposed by Tallwood Pty Ltd follows a comprehensive environmental assessment using the State’s major development process.

Stage one of the development involves an investment of $15 million, which is expected to grow to $165 million once the project is fully constructed, Minister Holloway says.

“The Mannum Waters development sets a new benchmark for best-practice marina and residential developments along the River Murray, in keeping with the Government’s draft strategy,” he says.

“Water quality will be safeguarded by providing secure houseboat moorings off-river and adopting comprehensive wastewater collection and spill containment.

“Work associated with the marina project will also enhance stormwater and wastewater treatment in the Mannum area, reduce pollution and improve the quality of inflows into the River Murray.”

The approved marina development on a 178-hectare site south of Mannum comprises:

  • A fully-serviced houseboat marina facility with 156 berths, waste disposal facilities, and provision for permanent occupation;
  • A residential land division of up to 162 waterfront allotments, along with tourist accommodation and some retail and commercial opportunities
  • Stormwater retention basins and a constructed wetland system for water filtration
  • The relocation of the Mannum Waste Water Treatment Plant from the floodplain, with opportunity for the reuse of the wastewater to irrigate the adjacent golf course.

Minister Holloway says the marina developer must ensure all water discharged from the project into the River Murray is at least equal to the quality of river water.

“Tallwood will also be required to secure a water licence and sufficient allocation from the water trading market, including the consideration of any restrictions that may apply at the time, before being allowed to fill the marina basin two years from today’s authorisation at the earliest,” he says.

While the initial consideration of the Mannum Waters project predates the draft marina strategy, many of the issues covered in the assessment process supported the development of a consistent strategy for the houseboat industry, Minister Holloway says.

The formal three-month feedback period for the draft Houseboat, Mooring and Marina Strategy for the River Murray will run from 18 November until 20 February 2009. Community information sessions will be held along the River, and in Adelaide, with details of this program to be posted on the Planning SA website from 18 November.

Feedback from this three-month process will be used to shape the final strategy, which will be used by State and local governments to guide planning decisions.

Copies of the draft strategy are now online at www.planning.sa.gov.au/go/rivermurraymarinasstrategy

Hard copies and CD ROM versions will be available from councils along the River from 18 November.