Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard celebrates 25 years of trail blazing excellence in Australia
by Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard 23 Apr 22:43 NZST
GCCM Sunset © Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard
The iconic shipyard that redefined Australia's marine industry by boldly transforming Gold Coast farming paddocks into an internationally renowned 'one-stop-shop' for vessel refit and repair has notched up 25 years.
Since opening in 2000 as the first major marina development within the Gold Coast's famous Coomera marine precinct, GCCM has been instrumental in changing the face of how boaties managed vessel maintenance and bolstering the Gold Coast's status as the marine capital of Australia.
GCCM was originally developed by the visionary Gay family in partnership with the Leigh-Smith family.
Today GCCM - which is an international refit and repair destination sensation across the global marine world - is proudly owned and operated by the Gay family. The Gays have played a key role in driving significant milestones for Australia's marine sector including the 2019 change to federal legislation allowing more foreign-flagged vessels to charter in Australia, securing Gold Coast as a customs and immigration clearance port, launching the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous to showcase the nation's superyacht capabilities and advocating for the dredging and maintenance of Gold Coast waters.
GCCM CEO Trenton Gay says GCCM has developed a global reputation for being a leading destination for marine refit and repair within the Asia Pacific region and the most experienced and awarded shipyard in Australia having achieved 5 Gold Anchor international accreditation in 2017 and reaccreditation in 2024.
"Our family is immensely proud of GCCM and its role in revolutionising how boat owners across Australia - and the world - maintain their vessels and defying the sceptics who originally thought our development and concept was crazy," Mr Gay said.
"GCCM and the wider Coomera marine precinct is home to Australia's largest concentration of marine trades servicing all size vessels from jet skis to superyachts and attracting boats from as far afield as USA, Europe and all parts of the Asia Pacific region," he said.
Today GCCM is home to more than 90 individual leading marine businesses employing in excess of 700 contractors who are dedicated to providing seamless repair and refit services whether you have a 10-foot tinnie, a sailing yacht or a 200-foot superyacht.
GCCM Chair and patriarch Pat Gay AM - and former Co-Chairman of the Gold Coast Waterways Authority who managed the construction of the Gold Coast Seaway - reflects on how GCCM came to be and his original belief and vision that "if you build it, they will come".
"Our intention in developing GCCM on farming land - which at the time was considered a risky move - was to be the biggest and best marina and shipyard in Australia which we achieved in GCCM's first year of operation by providing one safe and convenient location for refit and repair," Mr Gay said.
"GCCM isn't just a shipyard. We have created a legacy and a vibrant community of businesses and families that has elevated the entire marine industry," he said.
"The motto for this incredible precinct could easily be: dream big and deliver the best," said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.
"Over the past 25 years, these facilities have been integral to the expansion of our marine industry nationally and internationally," he said.
"Today, the industry contributes $1.2 billion to our local economy and employs over 5000 staff.
"Let's set sail for the years ahead."
GCCM's evolution continues with plans to expand significantly, including the development of an adjacent 20-hectare site: Titan Yard.
In 2008, GCCM acquired an additional 20 hectares of riverfront land in the marine precinct, anticipating the industry's future growth.
"Our goal is to take the sector to the next level, and we're building on that vision with the planning and development of Titan Yard" says Trent Gay.
"This facility will be a game-changer for the marine industry, both on the Gold Coast and across Australia".
Ultimately, TITAN Yard will cater for vessels up to 75 meters on hardstand, with refit sheds up to 100 meters in length and lifting capacity of up to 820 tons. Stage two development of TITAN Yard will increase this capacity to 1,800 tons. TITAN Yard will provide a state-of-the-art centre for superyacht and custom yacht building, and we're positioning it as a major hub for the industry.
The first stage, which includes 20,000m" of showroom, warehouse, and factory space, is set to be completed by mid-April 2026.