Whitsunday Regional Council votes to take over Shute Harbour boat ramp from state government

A local councillor has condemned a decision to buy a state boat ramp, saying they could not afford to upgrade roads, let alone a state government asset.

A local councillor has condemned a decision to buy a new boat ramp, saying the council “could not afford to upgrade local roads”, yet was looking at buying a “state government” asset. Picture: Contributed

A local councillor has condemned a decision to buy a state boat ramp, saying they could not afford to upgrade roads, let alone a state government asset.

Debate raged during the Whitsunday Regional Council meeting over the decision to upgrade the Shute Harbour boat ramp.

Some councillors said the move would fix a longstanding community issue, while others said they were not responsible to fix state government mistakes.

The boat ramp had an initial $1.8m state-funded upgrade in 2021.

Residents deemed the upgrade “flawed” because the upgrade had not improved access but rather had made the boat ramp more dangerous.

The decision at the time was to keep the infrastructure fixed, as part of a policy to not install floating structures in locations exposed to strong wind or cyclones.

This means the boat ramp is now often submerged at high tide leaving boaties with no choice but to swim to get to their boats in an area full of irukandji and crocodiles.

Despite the debate, the council passed the motion to become the new owners of the boat ramp and to upgrade it for residents at ratepayers’ cost.

To compare: The floating Cannonvale boat ramp with sea wall (top) and the Shute Harbour fixed boat ramp (below).

Mayor Julie Hall said they negotiated with the Department of Transport and Main Roads for the possibility to transfer ownership of the boat ramp to council at no-cost.

Mr Hall said council would then be free to invest privately to remove the fixed boat ramp and replace it with a floating one.

Councillor Gary Simpson said he had received many complaints from residents on the boat ramp issue in the past three years, while councillor Clay Bauman said he knew a lot of people who use that boat ramp and said a vote for the upgrade would fix an issue.

Councillor Jan Clifford said this investment would be worthwhile as the location was the “second highest money maker” for council, while boat registrations were increasing in the region.

“This is a small price to pay,” she said adding that she kept getting complaints from residents about it as well.

Shute Harbour boat ramp is often submerged by water meaning boaties often have to swim to get to their boats. Picture: Contributed

Councillor Mike Brunker said the idea was “crook”, and just another way for the state government to transfer responsibilities onto local councils.

“How much is it going to cost (...) to fix a state government mistake?”

He said council should instead take next year’s state election as an opportunity to discuss getting funding for another upgrade, similar to the $50 million allocated to the Bowen jetty.

“We spent $500 on a sign that says it’s a state government boat ramp.”

Shute Harbour CEO Craig Turner told members of council that the estimated cost of upgrading the boat ramp would be $1.14m, and that it could be started in the next couple of months.

Councillor Michelle Wright said they needed to be careful where they invested money, and focus on the assets they already own rather than try and fix something that belongs to the state government.

“We can’t afford to upgrade our local roads and yet we’re still looking at taking over a state government boat ramp,” she said.

Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm with residents protesting the 'failed' Shute Harbour Boat Ramp upgrades in. Picture: Supplied

Councillor John Collins agreed with Ms Wright, adding that this was “hypocrisy” from council to be willing to fund a project for members of the community in Shute

Harbour and their boat ramp while not considering upgrading the Proserpine RV Park, that closed earlier this year.

“They created this problem, we shouldn’t be spending money on it,” Mr Collins said.

“Where do we draw the line?”

Ms Hall told Mr Collins this was a different situation as there had been no way for council to own the land where the RV park was, while in this case by owning the asset, there would then be potential to commercialise it once the boat ramp was built.