FAQs

The name is derived from the unique location of the Burnett Heads Boat Harbour, along with key factors including:

1. The ease for vessels entering Australia for the first time – Bundaberg is the logical port of entry to Australia from the South Pacific and receives the largest number of custom clearances of leisure craft from international destinations to the east coast of Australia, making it one of the major gateways into Australia.
2. The position of The Gateway  Burnett Heads will be the first marina accessible to boats approaching Burnett Heads/Bundaberg making it a gateway to Bundaberg and the region.
3. The location is on the oceanfront at the mouth of the Burnett River.
4. It acts as the gateway to the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Gateway  Burnett Heads will be an integrated master planned development to be built in and around the existing Burnett Heads Boat Harbour creating a new tourism, lifestyle and leisure precinct. Following completion of dredging works, which have commenced, a mix of single hull, multi hull and commercial berths will be built in stages over a 7ha “wet area lease ” within the protected harbour. The marina berths will interface with another 7ha of freehold waterfront land which will hold a substantial mixed use marina village and resort complex. Development plans include:

• 318 marina berths
• a resort hotel with lagoon pool
• boutique waterfront apartments and villas
• 16 lakeside eco villas
• retail shops
• restaurants and cafés
• a chandlery
• a yacht club
• offices
• gymnasium and spa
• conference centre
• public areas with BBQ pavilions and
• a public boardwalk along the water’s edge connecting to the existing network of bike and walking paths in the region.

The Gateway Burnett Heads will be located at 67  Harbour Esplanade, Burnett Heads, Queensland, Australia.  The development will be situated at the mouth of the Burnett River, on the shore of the Burnett Heads Boat Harbour. It is a 15 minute drive from Bundaberg and its regional airport which offers direct daily flights through Qantas and Virgin to and from Brisbane and Cairns.  It is a 4.5 hour drive north of Brisbane.

With approval already granted to build berths over 7ha of “wet lease” area, the first release of berths including 2 commercial berths will commence following completion of harbour dredging. Register your interest now to receive development and progress updates.

Yes. Enquiries can be lodged on the enquiries page of this website to secure a spot now.

Berthing rates will be comparable to surrounding marinas, and with the addition of many new exciting amenities, it will make The Gateway Burnett Heads one of the most viable marinas for the boating community. The Gateway Burnett Heads will be affordable, accessible and convenient while offering a superior location and a safe harbour. For a full list of rates, contact us now on the enquiries page.

Construction of the first stage of the new land based development will commence by the last quarter of 2023.

At the same time as the first marina berths are being constructed, the existing building will be upgraded to provide secure parking, a new chandlery/general store, bathroom amenities including shower facilities and a manager’s office. A 24-hour fuel berth will also be built and operating. The newly upgraded Burnett Heads town centre is only a very short walk from The Gateway Burnett Heads offering the convenience of an IGA supermarket, pharmacy, post office, food and beverage including take-away fish and chips, bakery and cafes. The Lighthouse Motel, within the town centre, offers accommodation and is open for lunch and dinner every day, with great daily chef’s specials on offer.

Construction will commence on the Musgrave and the Elliot, the first of our Coral Sea Collection of residences. These two refined, 5 storey low rise north-facing buildings will deliver 46 bespoke 2, 3 and 4 bedroom residences and penthouses.

Yes. There are plans to provide purchasers of residences with an exclusive use marina berth. Anyone wanting further details can contact us via our enquiries page.

Yes. All enquiries are welcome through the website.  Contact us via our enquiries page.

A lot has been achieved already and progress continues. To date :

• Approval to build 318 marina berths has been granted.
• Harbour dredging is well underway with material removed including hard rock and sand from the harbour to ensure deep water access for mariners during all tide cycles
• A Development Application for the commercial precinct and first three boutique apartment buildings has been approved (with conditions) with Bundaberg Regional Council
• A Preliminary Application for the balance of the land-based development has been lodged with Bundaberg Regional Council.
• We are open to expressions of interest to lease marina berths
• The first of our Coral Sea Collection of residences, the Musgrave and the Elliot are now released for pre-sale

• Dredging program is now focused around our deepest water zones of -3.5m LAT which lead to our proposed fuel dock and commercial zones whilst providing the essential safe entry & exit of vessels
• Marina piling schematic designs are now being engineered and reviewed against recent bathymetric (marina) surveys and marina layouts
• Marina fuel schematic designs are underway and checked along with associated civil work requirements
• Reviews being conducted with QFRA to ensure safe access and the best fire-fighting capabilities are in accordance with fire brigades latest demands
• Trunk infrastructure demand calculation & subsequent designs  are being reviewed to suit council and satisfactory servicing requirements
• Engineering services designs are underway for the marina and residential apartment buildings these include fire, hydraulic, electrical and communications services
• Noting that all of our buildings, marina & services infrastructure  incorporate sustainable design solutions, adapt positive environmental practices to ensure future growth and practical maintenance expectations which protect the asset and environment.

• Construction of the first berths, 24-hour fuel dock and commercial berths plus the upgrade of existing land based facilities are expected to commence late 2023
• Construction of the first stage of the new land based development will commence by the second quarter of 2023

On completion there will be 318 berths including a mix of single hull, multi-hull and commercial berths available for lease. A limited number of berths will be for sale and there will also be a selection of berths reserved and available for the exclusive use of purchasers of apartments within the project.

Yes, there will be a 24-hour automated fuelling dock for the convenience of boat users, diesel and premium unleaded will be available.

The Gateway Burnett Heads will become the base for several unique experiences, including;

• whale watching tours
• reef tours to Lady Musgrave and Lady Elliot Island
• helicopter sightseeing tours to the reef & Fraser island
• sailing & fishing charters
• dive charters, including to the recently scuttled HMAS Tobruk
• educational turtle experiences to the famous Mon Repos turtle attraction

Commercial tour operators will be attracted to take advantage of the opportunities presented by our unique location and facilities.

The development proposes an integrated, cohesive approach to the site, which will fulfil the needs and requirements of the local community, government and other stakeholders and result in the delivery of a new mixed-use precinct consistent in quality and design and in keeping with the GPC’s vision for the Burnett Heads Boat Harbour precinct.

The project will respect and enhance the natural beauty and amenity of the area and be of sufficient scale to provide a significant contribution to the economic prosperity of the region, including:

• Provide employment to hundreds of people in the Bundaberg region during construction and operation including full time, part-time and casual workers across a broad range of disciplines including tourism, hospitality and other small business.
• Attract new businesses and increase spend per visitor to the area. The Marina Village and Resort precinct will attract thousands of additional people to Burnett Heads each year providing a boost to other local businesses in and around the area as they capture the transient movements of tourists to the area. The additional permanent population living at the Marina Village will create demand for a diverse mix of convenience retailing, services and food outlets.
• Increase tourism to the region from both interstate and overseas.The development will create a hub of experiences to local and international tourists by giving access to the Great Barrier Reef, including day trips to Lady Elliott , Lady Musgrave and Fraser Islands, world class viewing of the turtle season, wet land bird watching, whale watching and local fishing and diving.
• Overall benefit to the local community. Once completed, Gateway Marina Burnett Heads will play host to regular community activities such as charity events and competitions, increasing the awareness of Bundaberg at a regional, state and national level. These activities will focus on lifestyle and community interests relevant to Bundaberg such as marine recreation and sports such as boating, yacht racing, fishing and athletics in addition to embracing the indigenous nature and conservation as well as celebrating the rich local produce from the region with regular farmers and produce markets.

Environmental considerations have played a huge roll throughout the planning process and will continue to be highlighted throughout the development, showcasing the investors’ commitment to a more sustainable future and economy.

The use of recyclable and sustainable materials in construction along with the re use of dredge material throughout the project are important building criteria. This along with the use of green technologies such as solar for power, passive ventilation for cooling and rainwater harvesting for toilets and irrigation will be adopted throughout the project.

There are no current risks to local wildlife throughout the construction zone however BH Developments have considered local marine turtle nesting areas and have incorporated low level LED lighting applications into this development scope.

BH Developments will endeavour to minimise any impact to the local community and will always work closely with the community and local governing bodies to ensure regular updates are given throughout the development stage.

The project will deliver longer term benefits to the Burnett Head community through new and improved amenities and infrastructure to the area including new BBQ areas, picnic areas, restaurants and cafes, shops beach, public boardwalk, bike paths and more.  The residential buildings have been designed to maintain view corridors from harbour esplanade through to the water.

Discussions are continuing with the VMR regarding relocation to a new purpose built premises. BHD has commenced consultation with the VMR and GPC on design criteria and relocation site.

Yes, you can apply to the body corporate to have a small pet.

The development is expected to take between 3-5 years.

Yes, those who purchase a residence at the Musgrave or the Elliot residences will receive the first options to secure a long term marina lease.

Simply complete our enquiries form, email enquiries@gatewaymarina.com.au or contact Rick Williams or Damian Brown on 1800 988 242.