ROYAL Queensland Yacht Squadron has abandoned plans to build a sailing centre at Deanbilla Bay near Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island.
A master planning process for Dunwich, expected to take several years, has made the future of the club’s project uncertain.
RQYS general manager Shawn Ket said the club had taken over the lease of vacant dormitories from Sibelco and had tried to negotiate a longer-term tenure.
Mr Ket said the club wanted to renovate the buildings, buy boats for the sailing school and employ people.
“We wanted a mini version of the academy at Manly,” he said.
We are a little disappointed that our goal didn’t come to fruition but we respect the Queensland government’s decision.
- RQYS general manager Shawn Ket
Mr Ket said their proposal had met with mixed response.
“There was some enthusiasm and a negative position that was taken by some.”
Mr Ket said government officials had told the club the planning process would take years to finalise.
“During that time we would be paying expensive lease fees but everything would be on hold during the master planning process.
“We are a little disappointed that our goal didn’t come to fruition but we respect the Queensland government’s decision.”
Mr Ket said the government had invited RQYS to be part of the master planning process and they would be happy to do so.
He said the club had about 2000 people training through its sailing school annually and had wanted to build on those numbers.
“We saw Deanbilla Bay as a potentially suitable area,” he said.
Application for moorings
RQYS has previously been taken to task by other boating clubs for its proposal to Maritime Safety Queensland to manage moorings at Deanbilla Bay.
RQYS had applied to manage more moorings than the 10 it had previously been allocated.
A Transport Department spokesperson said MSQ had rejected Deanbilla Bay mooring buoy applications in September.
“The process was thorough and took into account the input of a large range of stakeholders and interested parties,” the spokesperson said.
“The key issues for the refusal were based on both marine safety concerns and the effective use of the limited sea areas available in Deanbilla Bay for boating activities.”
The spokesperson said existing mooring holders would continue to hold their approvals and no further mooring permits would be issued.
