SPECIAL REPORT: Fading jewel in need of restoration

MARINA DECLINE

Paul Makin

Journalist

Email Paul
Last updated:
A car park full of potholes for locals and tourists to navigate around. All Pictures: Paul Makin
Parts of the Marina need some TLC like these guard rails on the promenade.

The Port Douglas Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina is in a sad way and in desperate need of some good old-fashioned TLC.

It's hoped the person (or persons) who buys the old gal will have a vision for her to return to past glory. Locals who have been here a lot longer than I tell me it was once a hive of activity and a real social hub with stores selling the world's finest clothes and jewellery and a disco, come nightclub, to rival Studio 54.

Those days are long gone. She's tired, with the northern end of the complex empty of tenants and in a state of disrepair, a car park full of potholes for locals and tourists to navigate around and wooden upright posts and rails on the promenade looking worse for wear. There’s obviously a lot more we can’t see. She’s very tired and everyone who can see, knows it.

A cracked post.

Up for sale

Current owner, Syrian businessman Ghassan Aboud, did have huge plans for the Marina pre-Covid, but Douglas Shire Council knocked that on the head.

That outdated town plan strikes again, but in 2024, Mr. Aboud is ready to do business and part ways with the Port Douglas icon, and that my friends could be its salvation.

As revealed by Newsport Editor Michael Warren last month, an exclusive document obtained by the paper revealed that marina tenants were told a sale process for Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, in which potential buyers or authorized representatives will conduct inspections, was underway.

In a one-on-one interview with Mr. Warren a while back, Mr. Aboud said that he'd always remained open to selling the marina, if the price was right. "I’m a businessman, anything is for sale, I’m always ready to talk," he said.

Newsport also ran a poll in which 368 respondents, or 90% of voters, suggested the marina was in dire need of an immediate refurbishment or redevelopment.

Land nearby going to waste

Near the marina, valuable property goes undeveloped. Geoff Parmenter and Alison Diamond were told to get off the land where the once thriving On the Inlet restaurant stood, all in the name of progress. 'On The Inlet' was forced to shut down because of so called marina developments. Here it is years later, and nothing has happened.

They could be still there today if common sense had of prevailed. It didn’t and now the land with million-dollar views sits behind fencing looking forlorn and squandered.

Even George the groper would agree that's one that got away. Geoff Parmenter's response to Newsport asking about 'On The Inlet's' demise was brief and to the point: "That's water under the bridge you're unfortunately dealing with a Mossman Council," he said.

Hopefully, the new Council brings with it a desire to bring Port Douglas and Mossman closer together for the betterment of all in the Shire and get things moving.

A cracked post that has already had patch-ups.
Parts of the building have no tenants and in a state of disrepair.
Land with million-dollar views sits behind fencing with no development in sight.

Support public interest journalism

Help us to continue covering local stories that matter. Please consider supporting below.

Got a news tip?

Send a news tip or submit a letter to the Newsport Editor here.

Comments

Comments are the opinions of readers and do not represent the views of Newsport, its staff or affiliates. Reader comments are moderated before publication to promote valuable, civil, and healthy community debate. Visit our comment guidelines if your comment has not been approved for publication.