ALMOST 14 months after it was placed into receivership, the landmark Abel Point Marina has been listed for sale.

The former Meridien Marinas asset consists of 507 wet berths with associated commercial and retail facilities. Corporate recovery firm McGrathNicol was appointed as receivers and managers of the marina in September 2011 and last week instructed expressions of interest through Jones Lang LaSalle’s Jacob Swan and Ben Koop.

Mr Swan said the sale offer was expected to attract buyer interest from across Australia and beyond, with the property representing major future development opportunities for a master planned marina and tourist operation.

“Abel Point Marina is one of Australia’s premier marina assets, positioned strategically in Airlie Beach, the boating gateway to the magnificent Whitsunday islands, and one of the primary access points to the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef,” he said.

“Abel Point Marina is afforded with direct deep water access to the Whitsundays’ 74 islands and is located only 30 minutes from Proserpine Airport making accessibility convenient to both international and interstate travellers.”

Mr Swan said the marina provided an underlying profit (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of $3.3million (excluding berth sales) for the 12 months to June 30, 2012, via multiple income streams, with significant future potential development opportunities expected to be another major appeal for buyers.

“A development application is currently being progressed by the receivers which will establish the broad town planning parameters for future development over the site,” he said. “The Plan of Development envisages the further development of the marina into a master-planned marina and tourist development, providing residential, resort, commercial and retail uses. This is a unique countercyclical opportunity to acquire a world class marina investment significantly below replacement cost.”

Expressions of interest close on November 22.