Locals left to use Shute Harbour public boat ramp at their own peril
Boaties forced to swim from a boat ramp to their vehicles are still not being heard despite pleas for a redesign of the facility, with State MPs in a deadlock. Here’s what they have to say.
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With million dollar developments powering ahead on either side of it, frustrated boaties are still putting their lives at risk using a public boat ramp at Shute Harbour.
The Whitsundays community is baffled at the local and state governments lack of co-operation to fix what is being termed by boaties an “engineering disgrace”.
Upgraded in 2021, the new $1.8 million state-funded ramp at Shute Harbour was never fit for use ever since reopening, local fisherman and members of the 12K strong Facebook group “Fishing the Whitsundays” claim.
Founder of the group Adam Anderson is one of many local voices still appealing to the state and local governments to act.
“The boat ramp was meant to be three to four lanes with adequate parking – a completely revamped you-beaut boat ramp for the area,” Mr Anderson said.
“But they’ve done nothing to it except made extra blockages and made it more dangerous for people to use.”
According to a 2022 report by Brisbane based Aurelius research group, boat registrations in Queensland rose 2.9 per cent in 2021, well above the 10-year average of 1.4 per cent.
As a result, four times the number of boats are hitting the water post-pandemic, the report states.
The increase in boat registrations combined with sustained above-average population growth in the area, has meant the public boat ramp facility is at bursting point.
The main issue is the flawed design of the ramp itself.
“You can really only load one or two boats at a time,” Mr Anderson said.
“The jetty doesn’t rise and fall with the tide, unlike every other boat ramp in the area.
“It’s concreted down, so to launch your boat at high tide you’ve got to tie it off at the end of the jetty and then swim back in to move your car.
“This is an area full of Irukandji and you’re guaranteed crocodiles in the Shute Harbour area.
“To launch your boat here you have to swim back in.”
Larger boats are forced to use the ramp at the Volunteer Marine Rescue.
According to Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey is responsible for the design fiasco.
The State Government owns the infrastructure and TMR was responsible for the design but did not engage with the community over design, Ms Camm claims.
Council rejected TMR’s proposed design, however they ignored the rejections and did not consult further.
In early August 2021 Ms Camm launched a petition, which more than 800 people signed, calling on the government to rectify the issues immediately.
Since then, she has raised the issue with Minister Bailey on multiple occasions with the latest being in July when she wrote to him advising that the community was still sharing stories of injuries on the boat ramp.
“As it stands, the Shute Harbour Boat Ramp is dangerous,” Ms Camm said.
“Residents are waiting for upgrades and improvements to ensure there is safe access, and parking and launch facilities.
“The Minister’s refusal to visit the community and action the upgrades shows the level of contempt that he has for recreational fisherman and regional Queenslanders.”
Ms Camm said the Whitsundays represented one of the largest boat registrations in Australia, and its residents “should not have to settle for substandard boat ramps”.
Minister Bailey hit back, saying the current boat ramp was the only possible option due to a threat of cyclones.
“When it comes to marine infrastructure we listen to experts, not politicians, and last I checked Amanda Camm isn’t a water engineer,” he said.
“If Amanda Camm had any idea what she was talking about, she’d understand that a fixed walkway attachment to this boat ramp was required due to the number of cyclones experienced on the Whitsunday Coast, which leads to floating walkways being washed away.
“Let’s not forget the Shute Harbour marine precinct was severely damaged by Cyclone Debbie in 2017, and remained out of action for an extended period. Extensive community consultation was done after this, including for the boat ramp.
“Subsequently, the boat ramp was rebuilt to withstand cyclones, and opened to the public late last year.
“The majority of people have been happy with the boat ramp since it reopened, and we’re currently making it even better by putting extra tie up cleats along the walkway for boaties.
“The number of parks at the facility is a matter for council.”
Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Kell Dillon said as with all marine fixed walkways, they were designed to withstand a higher wave loading, which made it suitable for Shute Harbour which was ‘often subject to wave action and extreme weather’.
“Maritime Safety Queensland is aware some boaties had expressed a preference for a floating walkway over fixed infrastructure,” Mr Dillon said.
“Placing a floating walkway in a cyclone-exposed or high flooding waterway is not an option in many locations.
“The fixed walkway is usable for most of the 4.3-metre tidal range at Shute Harbour.
“One boat at a time can transfer passengers, while boats can secure to the outer walkway fenders while awaiting their turn.”
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