New Horizons

Under the banner of "New Horizons" the Marinas 2011 International Conference and Exhibition will bring the marina world to Melbourne for three days (20 – 22 June, 2011). The event is conducted every two years by the Marina Industries Association of Australia (MIAA). It is being held for the first time in Victoria.  John Spragg from Bellingham Marine is one of two MIAA Board members based in Melbourne. Spragg said Marinas 2011 is a unique opportunity to showcase Melbourne to the world’s marina industries. “MIAA’s conference and exhibition is internationally recognised as the best marinas trade event in the world. Bellingham Marine has a presence in all the worlds’ marinas market places and I am proud to say that nobody puts on a better event than MIAA. The event will provide a unique opportunity to showcase Melbourne’s marina infrastructure to leading international and domestic investors, developers and managers of marinas” he said.

VicUrban is one of a number of government partners in Marinas 2011 that understand the significance of the event. VicUrban Director of Investment and Business Attraction  Matthew Mulkearns said “ Marinas 2011 was an obvious event for VicUrban to support. It will provide us with a targeted opportunity to promote Melbourne’s Docklands to key players within the marina and related investment sector”.

MIAA executive officer Colin Bransgrove believe Melbourne’s hosting  of Marinas 2011 is particularly timely given current and projected marina developments around Port Phillip Bay. “Both club and commercial marinas around the Bay are experiencing good growth in recreational boating and demand for marina berths and dry land facilities is increasingly accordingly. The Victorian State government through Parks Victoria is implementing its ‘Our Bays Vision’ to provide a more diverse range of quality water-based experiences including the provision of additional safe recreational boating harbours. Focusing the world marina industries attention on Melbourne through Marinas 2011 will help facilitate development of quality boating infrastructure” he said.

For details on Marinas 2011 see www.marinas11.com.