d’Albora adds East Coast Marina to its fast-growing marine asset portfolio

MA Financial Group, which owns d’Albora, announced today the deal would add 295 wet berths and 240 dry storage racks to the group’s existing 12 marinas, including the Gold Coast-based Horizon Shores and Port of Airlie marinas that are already part of the business.

Other facilities at East Coast Marina, about 20km north of Brisbane, include a full-service maintenance yard, commercial tenancies, waterfront dining, onsite marina office and dedicated car parking.

“In addition to the scale and quality of on-site facilities, East Coast Marina has the benefit of a significant investment in water recycling and catchment facilities for boat washing and landscape irrigation, and nearly 300 solar panels generating renewable energy for the site,” a statement announcing the completion of the acquisition said.

d’Albora managing director Julien Pouteau said the acquisition would provide more opportunities for Australia’s largest marina network, allowing more of its customer benefits to be experienced by more of the boating public.

The move comes less than six months after d’Albora announced it had taken over two NSW-based marinas – Port Macquarie Marina on the Hastings River and Batemans Bay Marina to Sydney’s south – which added another 233 berths, including swing moorings for boats up to 50.0 metres in length, to the business.

d’Albora customers gain reciprocal rights at other marinas owned by the group, meaning if a boat goes on a tour of Australia’s eastern seaboard they will have a choice of member marinas with reciprocal rights to use along the way.

They also gain access to cheaper fuel that is available 24 hours a day, guest facilities and services, pump-out facilities, six full-service boatyards, and even waterfront dining options.

MA Financial Group is a global alternative asset manager with around $9.6 billion in assets under management and $112 billion in managed loans.

It bought the d’Albora marina group mid-last year, paying $225 million to take over the business.

d'Albora's portfolio includes marinas at the iconic Rushcutters Bay, The Spit and Cabarita Point in Sydney Harbour, two marinas adjacent to the Melbourne CBD, and management rights of the Port of Airlie marina at the gateway to the Whitsundays.