Dragged out affair: Officials meet to discuss Port Hinchinbrook’s future
Cardwell’s trouble-plagued Port Hinchinbrook is one step closer to a lifeline after local and state government officials confirmed their ‘willingness’ to develop a long-term solution.
Townsville
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Port Hinchinbrook was meant to be paradise - but a direct hit from Cyclone Yasi and the liquidation of its private owners has left the resort in an ugly no man’s land since 2013.
But things might be looking up.
On Friday, May 31, state and local government officials met in Cairns to discuss the port’s future and a potential dredging solution.
Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto has been leading the charge for action on Port Hinchinbrook, and he said the meeting was a great opportunity to have both levels of government in the same room.
“This is the first time in six and a half years where we have had the Cassowary Coast Regional Council (CCRC) and the State in the same room to agree that the normalisation of Port Hinchinbrook is critical to its redevelopment,” Mr Dametto said.
“All parties unanimously agreed that if remediated and set up correctly, Port Hinchinbrook could become an asset once again for the greater Cassowary Coast Region.”
Attending the meeting was mayor Teresa Millwood, councillor Peter Reed and CEO Andrew Graffen from the Cassowary Coast Regional Council and state government representatives from the Premier, Cabinet and Economic Development Queensland among others.
“Some see meetings such as this as a waste of time,” Mr Dametto said.
“Residents understandably want to see less talk and more action however in this instance it is imperative that the long-term strategy adopted for Port Hinchinbrook is examined and scoped out with a forensic level of detail given the numerous complexities attached to the area.”
The meeting adjourned with two clear outcomes:
- Council is willing to work with the state government to develop a long-term strategy for dredging at Port Hinchinbrook
- Council is willing to work with the state government to finalise the ‘normalisation process’ of Port Hinchinbrook which will see roads and sewerage maintenance taken over by Council
- Economic Development Queensland will undertake further legal examination of possible options to add value and de-risk the project for a potential future developer of the marina basin.
Port Hinchinbrook was developed by the Williams Corporation, which liquidated in 2013, placing the resort into administration and kicking off a chain of unfortunate events some have deemed “worthy of a Netflix mini series”.
Because the resort is a private development, whoever holds the deed to the resort is responsible for the maintenance of the sewerage system, roads and marina.
Currently, the biggest issue for residents who bought into the resort and still live there, is the state of the marina (One Mile Ck) which has filled up with sand and mud over the years, resulting in an nearly impassable low-tide water level.
The CCRC has been publicly committed to the ‘normalisation’ of Port Hinchinbrook for some time.
As of May 2024, the council had contracted Watertech for a $1.5 million ‘emergency dredging’ to re-establish a passable low-tide channel in the marina and construction was underway on a new $14.25 million sewerage treatment plant to replace the estate’s failing one.
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Originally published as Dragged out affair: Officials meet to discuss Port Hinchinbrook’s future
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