THE Redcliffe Peninsular Chamber of Commerce has included the Redlands in a push for Moreton Bay to become a maritime hub.
The Moreton Maritime Alliance was set up this year to create plans for the bay, which would help drive the region’s economic growth.
Alliance director Brad Flynn said the bay was not being used to its fullest potential, meaning businesses were missing out.
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Peninsular areas like Kippa-Ring and Margate and the Redlands’ Southern Moreton Bay Islands rated poorly for social disadvantage, with something needed to be done.
“Moreton Bay is totally under-utilised,” Mr Flynn said.
“You look out at it and go, ‘why is there no one out there’?
“We haven’t established a unique identity.”
A maritime master plan across Moreton Bay would be commissioned by the group as one of its eight key projects, to help guide state and local governments, businesses, investors and the community.
The plan would include new and expanded marinas, additional boat ramps and mooring facilities, artificial islands and diving sites, educational facilities, seafood markets and more.
“As politicians come and go, we want something to extend (past that),” he said.
Mr Flynn said the group had already helped to deliver an inflatable water fun park to the Redcliffe area, extended jetty markets and secured a ferry service from Scarborough to Moreton Island, with other development concepts before Moreton Bay Regional Council.
Mr Flynn said while the Gold Coast continued to benefit from funding for marine infrastructure and an investor push by state government, Moreton Bay missed out.
He encouraged Redlands businesses and organisations to join Moreton Maritime Alliance.
The alliance will host a breakfast tour of Moreton Bay aboard Dolphin Wild Tour boat Supercat on Friday, November 2 from 7.30am to 11am, departing Scarborough’s Newport Marina.
Tickets are $80, which includes a year’s membership to the alliance, with patrons able to learn more about the group’s plans and meet local and state politicians.
Mr Flynn said special guests would include Redcliffe MP and Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath, Redlands MP Kim Richards, Moreton Bay Regional Council mayor Allan Sutherland and Redland mayor Karen Williams.
To find out more about Moreton Maritime Alliance, visit here.
