Melbourne set for Marinas 2011

Melbourne has been chosen by the Marina Industries Association of Australia (MIAA) as the venue for the Marinas 2011 International Conference and Exhibition that is expected to attract key players in the marina industry from around the world.

The four-day conference, to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre June 19 - 22 next year, is also expected to attract a large number of investors and the government agencies involved in marina tenure, operations and infrastructure.

Following two successful conferences on the Gold Coast, MIAA Marinas 2011 committee chairman Mike Harvey says he is excited to be heading for Melbourne.

"The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is an excellent venue and is barely a stone's throw from some of the newest and most innovative marinas in the country.

"The increasing vibrancy of the marina industry in the greater Melbourne region, aligned with the city's excellent conference facilities made Melbourne the obvious choice to host the next and largest Marinas conference to be held in the southern hemisphere."

Victoria has 165,000 registered powered recreational vessels and approximately 300,000 licensed recreational boaters and personal watercraft operators.

MIAA chairman Andrew Chapman says that with Victoria's growing boating culture, Melbourne will be an excellent location to focus on the national and international marina industries.

Further details of the conference, which will include presentations and field trips for marina site inspections, will be released by the MIAA over the coming months.