Survey of Australia Marina Industry Shows Steady Growth

The 2017 Club Marine Health of the Australian Marina Industry Survey report has been released by the Marina Industries Association based in Sydney, Australia.

First conducted in 2013, the survey now provides trend data over a six-year period. The work is conducted by the Recreation Marine Research Centre at Michigan State University. About 44 percent of Australia’s 320 marinas participated in this latest survey.

Key trends from the surveys include:

• Steady demand for marina boat storage with national storage occupancy at 85 percent;
• 38 percent of marinas have summer waiting lists for berth spaces;
• 3 percent increase in supply to approximately 70,000 spaces;
• Supply of 24m plus berths grew 17 percent over this period;
• Marina gross revenues increased 32 percent to $3.2 million;
• For the 2016/17 period capital expenditure was on average $850,000 per marina;
• Average marina payroll has increased 33 percent.

Over the six-year period there has been a 30 percent increase in the number of marinas providing social or recreational programs or activities for the general public. Investment in environmental protection more than doubled.

The 2017 Club Marine Health of the Australian Marina Industry Survey report has been sent to all participating marinas and it is available for purchase from MIA.