Plans have been unveiled for a game-changing commercial marina for Brisbane that will herald a new era of water-based tourism for the River City.
To be known as Colmslie Wharves, the new marina will be co-located with Raptis Seafoods at Morningside in the city’s inner east and provide vital overnight berthing for commercial tourism vessels.
Colmslie Wharves is forecast to inject more than $100 million a year into the local economy, attract almost 110,000 additional visitors to Brisbane per annum and create 337 ongoing jobs in the tourism industry.
As Brisbane gears up for the 2032 Olympic Games, the marina will be the catalyst for new Brisbane River, Moreton Bay and Bay Islands experiences. It will also encourage investment in common user river infrastructure, creating new and improved pick-up and drop-off points and day trip outings.
The Queensland Government is backing the Colmslie Wharves with a $4 million grant from its Growing Tourism Fund due to the project’s close alignment with key tourism, economic, employment and environmental objectives.
A Development Application for Colmslie Wharves has just been lodged with Brisbane City Council by Raptis Investments, the property management arm of the longstanding family-owned seafood group.
Plans for the project on Colmslie Road include 51 berths designed to accommodate vessels up to 35 metres, on-water fuelling, wastewater facilities, car parking and staff amenities. The site is located only 9km from the Brisbane CBD with easy access for vessel provisioning, which will mostly occur on weekends and outside of business hours.
Raptis Investments CEO Tim Beirne said Colmslie Wharves would provide the missing piece in Brisbane’s marine tourism industry by creating a much-needed permanent home for commercial vessels.
“While Brisbane is known as the River City, we are underperforming in river tourism compared with other Australian capital cities and less than 10 per cent of overnight visitors currently participate in a river, bay or islands experience,” Mr Beirne said.
“Colmslie Wharves will support and grow aquatic tourism by giving current operators the security of long-term berthing while also encouraging new entrants to the industry.
“It will enable more investment, more jobs and more visitation to Brisbane, revitalising marine tourism in the River City and our reputation as a premier waterside destination.”
Since 2023, Brisbane’s commercial tourism operators have faced a severe shortage of suitable marina berths, resulting in a market failure that has constrained the growth and investment potential of the marine tourism industry.
The forced removal of commercial vessels from Dockside Marina at Kangaroo Point, combined with the closure of marine facilities at Eagle Street Pier, required commercial operators to relocate. Many have sought temporary berthing at either Raptis’ current Colmslie dock or the recreational marina at Rivergate, neither of which are fit for purpose.
“Colmslie Wharves has been designed with environmental responsibility at its core, ensuring minimal impact on the Brisbane River and surrounding ecosystems,” Mr Beirne said.
“It will also help to reduce unauthorised mooring of commercial vessels, mitigating any related environmental risks.
“Colmslie Wharves is the right solution in the right location and at the right time for Brisbane to step up and takes its place among Australia’s leading waterside tourism destinations.”
Barrie Coonan is the owner of Brisvegas Cruises, which operates two vessels on the Brisbane River with a range of experiences from private charters to evening party cruises.
Mr Coonan said he was excited by the Colmslie Wharves project, which could be a catalyst for river and bay tourism.
“In the 30 years I have been involved in the commercial boat industry on the Brisbane River, there has been no long-term berthing solutions at all,” he said.
“The Raptis proposal provides certainty and is in a location separated from residential property and residents who may object to our operations, as we have experienced at Dockside.
“If we want to be a river city, we must have locations for commercial tourism operators, tour boats and other riverside activities to operate from.”
Once approved, it is expected that construction of Colmslie Wharves will start immediately with the first vessels forecast to arrive in 2026.
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