Marine Queensland has announced the second Mackay Marine Festival incorporating the Mackay Tinnie and Tackle Show and Mackay leg of the Australian Offshore Superboat Championships, on June 23rd and 24th 2012. Adding to this year’s Marine Festival will be heaps of family fun in Mulherin Park proudly being presented by North Queensland Bulk Ports. There will be rides for the kids, food and entertainment – something for everyone.
With more exhibitors that last year, the 2012 event will feature product ranging from offshore fishing boats, tinnies, fibreglass boats, engines, PWC’s, marine electronics and accessories. Marine Queensland Events’ Manager Jason Plant said forget the mining boom – Mackay was bursting with boats - the region boasting one of the state’s highest per capita boat ownership ratios with one boat registered for every 8 residents. Boat registration figures reveal last year’s event resulted in a 300% increase in new boat sales in the region. “Outside of the Gold Coast - Mackay has the highest number of boats per resident in Queensland,” Mr Plant said. “The figure of 12% boat ownership in the region also makes it the highest in the state with 95% of these boats being trailer boats 8m and under. “Last year’s free event was a great success highlighting just how popular boating in the region is and to support our members in the area by giving them an opportunity to show case their products and services. “By putting on a festival solely dedicated to the on water lifestyle we aimed to bring to the region the new product releases and the fishing talks and demonstrations that have been enjoyed by visitors to the southern based shows for years and Mackay residents certainly responded to that.”
