Cairns boating infrastructure slated for $11.3m upgrades if Labor re-elected including Palm Cove Jetty

A re-elected Labor Government has vowed to pump $11.3m into boating and marine infrastructure around Cairns but talked down overturning controversial commercial fishing bans.

The Palm Cove Jetty is among the marine infrastructure assets which would be upgraded. Picture: ROSS PALM

A re-elected Labor Government has vowed to pump $11.3m into boating and marine infrastructure around Cairns but talked down overturning controversial fishing bans despite new research suggesting the outlawed industry may have been unfairly targeted.

Cairns MP Michael Healy and Barron River MP Craig Crawford made the promise from the Palm Cove Jetty on Friday – one of the beneficiaries of the proposed funding.

Mr Crawford said $1.2m of the funds would be allocated to the Palm Cove Jetty to create a “wave break” to allow boaties to moor up to the pontoon.

He said while he hadn’t seen Department of Transport and Mains Roads’ drawings, he confirmed the break was not a rock wall, rather would likely be artificial coral, which would ease water movement around the pontoon.

“We’re waiting for Main Roads to release them when they come out of caretaker but we understand that it is a concept that will enable recreational anglers still to be able to get really good fish from the jetty,” Mr Crawford said.

The Queensland Labor Party has committed $11.3 million to upgrade public boating and fishing facilities in Far North Queensland, should they be re elected to government. Member for Cairns Michael Healy and Member for Barron River Craig Crawford inspect the public jetty at Palm Cove, which will receive $1.2 million for breakwater and wave management. Picture: Brendan Radke

“It will enhance the species underneath. It will make it safer to pull vessels in, and it can be extended to actually create even a larger wave break.”

Mr Crawford conceded the wave break option may not be immediately successful, but stated environmental considerations into the impacts of altering waves had been studied and approved by TMR.

“We might not get it right the first time, if we don’t get it right, we’ll amend it, we’ll change it

Mr Healy said $6m would be allocated to constructing a new boat ramp at the southern end of Tingira St, Portsmith to accompany already-existing infrastructure, and two “floating pontoons” for about $600,000 would be built at the Esplanade, near Hilton Hotel, giving boaties more immediate access to the waterfront hospitality.

“It’ll allow smaller vessels to be able to come in and enjoy our restaurant marine precinct, so they’ll be able to come in, they’ll be able to moor there and they’ll be able to access the walkway, which will give them access to the inner city,” Mr Healy said.

Aerial view of Cairns City and Esplanade Lagoon. Photo courtesy TTNQ

With the upgrades primarily recreational boaties, Mr Healy knocked back suggestions of relief for commercial industry operators with gillnet fishing set to be wound back on the east coast by 2027, and already in effect in the Gulf as of May.

The state government established net-free zones to protect endangered marine species including dugongs, however in August a JCU survey revealed a “thriving population” in the Far North.

“Over 17 years, the dugong population in the far northern Queensland area has grown at approximately two per cent per year, indicating that the dugongs in this region are in good condition,” the survey’s report read.

Mr Healy said the research suggested the “policies we have in place are working” when asked about overturning or reviewing the bans.

Originally published as Cairns boating infrastructure slated for $11.3m upgrades if Labor re-elected including Palm Cove Jetty