Construction has started on a $1 million marina in the heart of Innisfail, leading an anticipated "river boom"

Work began on the marina last week as developers of its "big brother" continued discussions with Johnstone Shire Council about their $130 million waterfront proposal.

The council's chief executive officer, Stuart Randle, said the Johnstone River was staging a comeback in the burgeoning town.

"We have one marina under way, another under consideration, a new commercial tourist boat leaving from town and a new management plan for the boat harbour and foreshore in draft form," Mr Randle said.

The $1 million 14-berth marina is expected to be complete by the end of March.

Innisfail developer Darryl Subloo said seven of 14 piles had been driven into the river bed and engineers were
completing a geotechnical survey ahead of the rest being erected.

Investors had bought more than half the berths off the plan, some of them after also buying an apartment in a six-storey riverside complex that was under construction.

Mr Randle said Johnstone Shire Council and Metricon Queensland has further talks about plans for a $130 million waterfront venture connected by an access channel and lock to Ninds Creek.

The plans included a 60-berth marina, yacht club, 179 residential lots with private moorings and a 15ha saltwater lake on former farming land.

He said "land tenure and development standard issues" were the reasons for further negotiations ahead of a council decision. But none of the issues were "show-stoppers".

The council's new harbour management and foreshore management draft plans - which would open the door to discussions with several other developers keen to capitalise on the town's river frontage – were with the Department of Natural Resources, he said.