QUEENSLAND NEWS
Moreton Bay – Redcliffe
The announcement was made during a recent ministerial visit to Scarborough Harbour on the Redcliffe Peninsula, north of Brisbane City, which will be the first state harbour to be upgraded.
Planning is also under way for upgrades of Manly, Urangan and Rosslyn Bay harbours while planning has not started yet for Bowen, Mooloolaba, Snapper Creek (Tin Can Bay) and Cabbage Tree Creek (Shorncliffe) harbours.
The government will spend an extra $3.9m to kickstart work on the upgrade of public facilities at Scarborough Harbour which will involve better safety, more public access and parking facilities, landscaping and upgraded amenities.
GOVERNMENT VIEWPOINT
Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg visited the harbour recently to make the announcement along with Redcliffe MP Kerri-Anne Dooley and Maritime Safety Qld general manager Kell Dillion, among others.
“Boat harbours drive economic opportunities,” Mickelberg says.
“We want to see more viable and more prosperous boat harbours right up and down the Queensland coast.
“This funding will lay the foundation for community access, business and service opportunities, and provide for new jobs in enterprises like marinas, slipways, chandleries, public boat ramps and maritime tourism operations across the State’s coastline,” the minister says.
Maritime Safety Qld general manager Kell Dillion says the master plans are about establishing precincts around the state boat harbours.
“Slipways, boat harbours, restaurant precincts, green space, parkways, car parks – all have to be planned appropriately so they can be delivered.”
MARINA BENEFITS
Dooley says the Scarborough State Boat Harbour Master Plan will improve the experience for all who visit or use the harbour and added that anti-hooning devices will be part of the upgrades.
Scarborough Marina owner Mark Robertson says the funding will make “a big difference” to them.
“We’ve waited a long time to see this harbour developed. It’s been somewhat languishing here.
“The boating industry has been growing steadily and needs more facilities so the opportunity to improve what we have is very much welcome,” he says.
The Scarborough Master Plan says $20-$24m is to be spent for the local area and that development could boost spending by $7.4 million to $8.9 million per annum.
