We understand that our marina has a direct impact on the natural environment and the community in which we operate.
Coral Sea Marina Resort is incredibly proud to support a number of community and environmental projects which ensure we operate our business in a sustainable manner. We are also committed to creating a community focused recreation hub at the marina to be enjoyed by locals and visitors to the region.
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The Coral Sea Academy
The Coral Sea Academy is a new initiative of ours, providing a series of educational and innovative events that are designed to educate guests, locals and visitors to the Whitsundays about the environment, the Great Barrier Reef, better boating and sustainability.
The Coral Sea Academy has been created with a desire to provide an experiential travel encounter that educates, engages and immerses guests with meaningful themes relevant to the Whitsunday region. We believe that today’s travellers are looking for a more immersive travel experience and the Whitsunday and Great Barrier Reef regions are perfectly placed to provide an educational travel experience focusing on marine conservation, ecotourism, sustainability and our environment.
These community events held at the marina resort hope to encourage more people in the preservation of our marine environment so that all can continue to stay, play and explore the heart of the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef.
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The Last Straw
The Last Straw campaign is aimed at eliminating plastic straws. The Last Straw Great Barrier Reef campaign aims to eradicate plastic straws completely from business and vessels on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Sea Marina Resort signed up to this great initiative and then set about gaining commitment from all marina dining outlets and commercial tour operators to do the same.
In June 2018, all five marina dining venues committed to becoming plastic straw free, as well as 123 vessels operating from the marina precinct. This makes us the first marina in Australia to have all its food outlets saying no to plastic straws, which is a great commitment to the future of the environment. Only stainless and paper straws are now available, and only on request.
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Clean Marina Level III
Coral Sea Marina Resort holds a Clean Marina Level III (ISO 14001 accreditation level) certification which is awarded to marina industry leaders with the highest level of environmental management. The accreditation is awarded through the Marina Industries Association and is based on a set of criteria which are regularly reviewed to ensure continuous improvement through benchmark environmental practice.
Maintaining Clean Marina accreditation strengthens our commitment to conserving our natural marine environment.
https://www.marinas.net.au/industryprograms/international-clean-marina-program
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Fish Friendly Marina
Coral Sea Marina Resort has attained Fish Friendly Marina status, which recognises our commitment to actively working to improve fish habitats within the marina environment.
https://www.marinas.net.au/industryprograms/industry-programs/fish-friendly-marina-certification
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Single-Use Plastic Free
Coral Sea Marina Resort is continuing on its path towards ‘cleaner’ living with the most recent development being the signing of a pledge in 2019 with the Marina Industries Association to fully eliminate single-use plastics from within the marina.
We are working towards removing single-use plastics free by 2025 and we have commenced this initiative in 2019 by firstly aiming to become plastic bottle free. So far:
- We have installed three hydration stations throughout the resort precinct and have for sale stainless enviro water bottles at both marina offices and the hotel reception, as well as in the hotel rooms. In addition, single use coffee cups at the Coral Sea Resort Hotel are plastic free BioCups and all guests are encouraged to use non single use cups as an alternative.
- Plastic water bottles have been eradicated from our resort owned food outlets and events venues and have been replaced with canned water. Our mini bars at the Coral Sea Resort Hotel have had plastic water bottles also replaced with cans, along with the enviro water bottles for purchase.
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SICYC – Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia
Coral Sea Marina Resort is a proud major sponsor of the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club (SICYC). Every August the SICYC host their annual rendezvous in the Whitsundays to raise much needed funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). For last 6 years, Coral Sea Marina Resort has provided major sponsorship specifically for this fundraising event.
Donating considerable time, money and resources to this worthwhile cause and creating a welcoming atmosphere for the cruising fraternity each winter, is part of our commitment to community. The Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club has over 6000 members and over the last 8 years has raised more than $600,000 dollars for the PCFA. Every year attendees at the rendezvous form the Hands Across the Blue to raise awareness for prostate cancer research. Over 200 boats participate every year in the waters of Gloucester Passage.
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Voluntary Marine Rescue
As major sponsor of the Whitsunday Voluntary Marine Rescue (VMR), Coral Sea Marina Resort was instrumental in the purchase of the VMR’s new rescue vessel Coral Sea Marina VMR1..
With our sponsorship, the committed team of volunteers have a state-of-the-art rescue and premium berthing allocation at their disposal. The volunteers are now able to respond quicker and more safely to incidents at sea.
Coral Sea Marina Resort has committed to a three-year sponsorship agreement. As the on-water tourism and recreation hub of the Whitsundays, our commitment to this worthwhile organization is focused on ensuring the safety of local and visitors on our Whitsunday waters.
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Eco Barge Clean Seas
Coral Sea Marina Resort are proud sponsors of Eco Barge Clean Seas, a volunteer and non-for-important organization with a relentless drive and commitment towards keeping the Whitsunday oceans clean and protecting the local marine life. We encourage all visitors to the region and guests to the marina resort to educate themselves on the efforts of this great company, including their marine debris removal scheme, plastic recycling on site through their own machine and the Turtle Rescue Centre, and we invite everyone to do their bit and get involved.
All are welcome and encouraged to participate in the collection of any marine debris you find on the islands, beaches or in the water during your adventures in support of the work of Eco Barge Clean Seas. Should you want to find out more, or even have a spare day free where you would like to lend a hand, don’t hesitate to get in touch with them directly to see how you might be able to help their cause.
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Whitsunday Festival of Motoring
Coral Sea Marina Resort is major sponsor of the 2019 Whitsundays Festival of Motoring. Proposed to be hosted 3- 5 May 2019, this festival will bring a shore-based showcase of the very best in motorsport to the Whitsunday region. With a round of the Queensland Rally Championships (Rally Whitsundays) scheduled for the 4 May, competitors from all over Queensland will drive some of the most scenic roads in the shire. With festival headquarters being staged at Bowen, and a welcome event at Coral Sea Marina Resort, this is sure to be an epic event for motorsport and the Whitsunday community.
Coral Sea Marina Resort are passionate about bringing community events to the region, attracting more visitors and partnering with key industry stakeholders to put the Whitsundays on the tourism destination map within Australia.
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Whitsunday Clipper Race Carnival
In January 2018, Coral Sea Marina Resort in conjunction with Tourism Whitsundays, Whitsunday Regional Council and Tourism Events Queensland hosted the inaugural Whitsunday Clipper Race Carnival. A two week community event designed to coincide with the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race making their host port stay in Airlie Beach (Coral Sea Marina Resort). With public open days, corporate race days and incredible ticketed events showcasing the region, sailors, locals and visitors alike got to experience the Whitsunday spirit.
With a White on Whitehaven Beach Lunch, a Progressive Cruise Lunch, Rodeo By The Reef and a huge Welcome Party on the foreshore in Airlie Beach, the wondrous Whitsundays came alive for this incredible festival of events. Attracting over 8000 visitors to the region and injecting over $1.4m into the local economy, Coral Sea Marina Resort is proud to be major sponsor of this event and to have spearheaded the initial concept with local government. Due to return to region in 2020, we look forward to making this event once again an incredible success.
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Outrigger Whitsundays
Promoting health and fitness is another passion of the team at Coral Sea Marina Resort. As major sponsor for Outrigger Whitsunday for the second year running, we are committed to involvement with community sporting clubs.
On any given day you may see the members of the Whitsunday Outrigger Club paddle through the marina during practice, returning to their home at the adjacent Shingley Beach precinct. With nine Outrigger Whitsundays crew representing Australia at the World Titles in Tahiti in 2018, the club is growing from strength to strength and we are proud to support that. Look out for the annual Outrigger Whitsunday festival which takes place every year in Airlie Beach attracting teams from all over Queensland.
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Education & Youth
The team at Coral Sea Marina Resort are committed to the youth of the region and their education. Our management team have provided information sessions and hosted school excursions from Cannonvale State School and Proserpine High School in the last year, as well as our participation in the Environmental Sustainability Forum held at St Catherine's Catholic College. Teaching the students about the marine tourism industry, running a sustainable business and environmental management practices engage them to be mindful of our marine environment and the community in which we operate.
Coral Sea Marina Resort also became major sponsor of the Cannonvale School Fete in 2018, contributing much needed funds to the ever growing community state school.
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Junior Sporting Club Sponsorship
We are committed to promoting fitness and wellness in the youth of the community and to encourage our younger generations to become actively involved in sports. Coral Sea Marina Resort officially sponsors numerous local youth sports teams, including Cannonvale Cannons Swimming, Proserpine Pitbulls Cricket, the Whitsunday Football Club and Whitsunday Junior Rugby Union. We have provided each team with a $1,000 sponsorship grant and are avidly enthusiastic about the development of these clubs and the youths enjoyment of each. Keep an eye out on our News Items and What’s On Guide for further details on events.
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Sailing Sponsorships
Coral Sea Marina Resort are keen sponsors of both Junior Sailing and Sailability Whitsunday. We are proud to be home to the sailing heart of Australia, where this sport and pastime is fully embedded to the Whitsundays way of life.
We are keen to introduce our youth into sailing and to support the growth of their knowledge, skills and enjoyment. Sailability Whitsunday similarly provides people with disabilities and disadvantages with the fantastic opportunity to get out on the water and enjoy this wonderful activity with support, regardless of age or ability.
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Great Barrier Reef Festival
As a major sponsor of the 2019 Great Barrier Reef Festival, Coral Sea Marina Resort is activity involved in the promotion and development of this years Great Barrier Reef Festival which is set to take place over 1-4 August.
The Great Barrier Reef Festival is a community event that is all about the celebration of life in the Whitsundays, at the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. This is the region’s favourite festival and is a fun-filled combination of family time, all-night parties and celebrations, with live music, markets, carnival rides, food stalls and fireworks, to name a few. In addition to this, you can add art and environmental workshops to your itinerary, plus parades and galas and so much more! This is four action-packed days designed for anyone and everyone and invites you all to come and enjoy winter in the Whitsundays.
Image credit: VAMPP photography
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Airlie Beach Race Week
Coral Sea Marina Resort is one again a proud sponsor of the Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing for 2019. This exciting and vibrant week of sailing-action is set to take place just after the Great Barrier Reef Festival, from 8-15 August.
This incredible week of off-shore racing, plus nights of socializing and entertainment, draws many to come and experience our incredible region and soak up all the Whitsundays has to offer – with both on-shore and off-shore activities, there is so much to enjoy and share in. Coral Sea Marina Resort is passionate about the sailing industry within the Whitsundays as well as community events that not only locals can enjoy and be proud of, but that can draw others to the Whitsunday region and put Airlie Beach on the map as a must-see destination on the Queensland coast.