Inside Track June July 2017

ABELL POINT PROGRESS
UNDETERRED BY STORM
Abell Point Marina in Queensland, Australia is set to complete
new developments this year, alongside an unexpected Cyclone
Debbie clean-up
Five gold anchor-accredited marina Abell Point is expanding
its offerings by constructing a new park and customer lounge.
Several years in planning, 2.5 hectares of private parkland is
under construction to create a relaxing leisure hub within the marina
precinct, for guests and visitors to enjoy. When complete, it will provide
an area of lush parkland with stunning views over the marina, including a
35m round splash park with water fountain play area, an intimate outdoor
space for weddings and ceremonies, an open area for hosting concerts
and events, seating and relaxation areas, a mobile café and a beach area. The
development is due to complete in the middle of the year.
Another key addition is the Ocean Club, a 22m floating customer lounge that will
be berthed in the south marina precinct on ‘Q’ arm. It will provide a range of deluxe
amenities for customers staying at Abell Point, including 12 first-class private ensuite
bathrooms and a fully equipped laundry area on the ground floor. The
second floor will provide a contemporary customer lounge complete with
an exclusive waterfront sundeck area offering stunning marina views. The
pontoon design is bathed in wooden panelling, stainless steel and open
spaces, designed to make full use of the natural tropical Whitsunday sea
breeze.
As well as upgrades to the private amenities in both the north and
south village – and upgrades to power and the pontoons in the north
marina – the marina has recently purchased the Barcelona Tapas
Restaurant. This will be relaunched with a new interior design, new
menu, new vision and focus on providing exquisite cuisine.
After the storm
In March, the largest weather event ever to hit the Whitsundays descended
on Queensland. Sustained winds reached 119mph and power outages affected
63,000 homes in the region. The cyclone is considered the most dangerous to impact
Queensland since Cyclone Yasi in 2011 and the deadliest to hit Australia since Cyclone
Tracy in 1974. It killed at least 12 people, primarily as a result of extreme flooding. It formed
as a tropical low on 23 March and gradually intensified to a named tropical cyclone on 26
March.
Inevitably, it hit Abell Point. But, considering the force and duration of the storm, the
marina held up remarkably well. The team worked hard to restore normality following
damage to infrastructure, boats, houses, businesses and native flora. The pontoon
structures in the north marina were damaged due to the relentless wind and the waves
constantly crashing over the rock wall at the highest point of the tide and for hours
afterwards.
Quick to act, staff conducted a full damage assessment and estimated that replacement
pontoons would take between three and four months to be fully operational. As the pontoons
in the north end needed replacing anyway, the marina decided to install brand new ones rather
than repair the old.
There was also minor damage to some pontoon fingers in the south marina and ongoing
maintenance and repairs will be carried out over the next two months. However, the marina village stood
up well, with only cosmetic damage to buildings, tenancies and infrastructure. The walkway to ‘L’ arm was destroyed,
but a temporary replacement walkway has already been installed, allowing fuel services to resume. A new walkway is
being manufactured and will be ready for installation just five weeks following the storm.
Even though 507 vessels were berthed at Abell Point when Debbie hit, just two vessels sank in their berths and three
broke their lines. One ended up on the rock wall and the other two on nearby Shingley Beach. Various vessels have
cosmetic damage in the form of scratches, bent railings and torn sails, but insurance assessors for all major companies
were quickly on site to assist boat owners with their claims.
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www.marinaworld.com – June/July 2017