Port Hinchinbrook: Premier Steven Miles pledges to fix Cardwell mess
The premier has announced a raft of measures, including an additional $7 million, to a beleaguered development project in Cardwell if his government is re-elected.
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Queensland Premier Steven Miles has announced a raft of measures, including an additional $7 million, to “tidy up the mess” at the beleaguered Port Hinchinbrook development project in Cardwell if his government is returned to office in October.
Speaking at a stand-up news conference next to the derelict former restaurant centrepiece of the development devastated by Cyclone Yasi in 2011, Mr Miles said he had been working with Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto in attempts to “tidy up the mess here in Port Hinchinbrook” for a number of years.
“The first part of that was the compulsory acquisition of the Sewerage Treatment Plant,” he said.
“Today I am announcing that we will invest an additional $7 million into the (Cassowary Coast Regional) Council to allow them to do the necessary upgrades to the Sewerage Treatment Plant.”
Mr Miles said his government was also “getting rid of the Conformed Deed,” saying that it would “come as great relief to many people.
Mr Dametto has previously stated that the deed stipulated that the developer was responsible for providing services and maintenance to the roads, sewerage, lighting, parks and gardens maintenance and dredging of the marina basin maintenance as well as the dredging of One Mile Creek.
Mr Miles said his government would also “commence discussions to acquire necessary land here to allow for an appropriate master plan to go forward”.
“We will also, if re-elected in October, fund the dredging of the channel and direct EDQ to do whatever work is necessary here to get it back up to a saleable and commercially viable product.”
The news was well received by Mr Dametto and a dozen residents at the announcement.
Mr Miles said the response to community advocacy and Mr Dametto’s determination would make a “massive difference” for Cardwell and the Cassowary Coast region.
“This is a very complicated process and this is a complicated package designed to address that and it goes to every element of the concerns that were raised here by Nick and the community and it means that if we are re-elected in October, we’ll be able to implement all of this plan.”
Mr Dametto said the commitment was “historic”.
“For too long the people behind me have been suffering since Cyclone Yasi, that was in 2011 when it ripped through here and ripped this place to pieces, it’s taken a lot of time and a lot of lobbying.”
He said the “extinguishing” of the Conformed Deed would mean that the council would treat Port Hinchinbrook like any other suburb of Cardwell and take responsibility for basic infrastructure.
“What that means is the residents can get on with their lives, tourism can continue to flourish here in the Hinchinbrook electorate and once again be drawn back to Port Hinchinbrook,” he said.
“Right behind us we’ve got the Cardwell foreshore, Hinchinbrook Island home to the Thorsborne Trail, and the Hinchinbrook Channel, which is home to some of the best fishing in North Queensland, we want to be able to access that, not only for our residents but also for those that want to visit the area.”
He said local businesses would now have the opportunity to rebuild after Cycle Yasi.
Resident Gary Scott thanked Mr Miles and Mr Dametto.
“Tourism is the lifeblood of Cardwell and the area and this is the centre of tourism for this end of Hinchinbrook Channel.”
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Originally published as Port Hinchinbrook: Premier Steven Miles pledges to fix Cardwell mess
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