$3.8m Inkerman Creek boat ramp at Port Alma officially opens

Work will now start on the second stage of the $8 million project at Casuarina Creek.

The new Inkerman Creek boat ramp was officially opening on May 15.

The $3.8 million new single-lane boat ramp and car-trailer parking facility at Inkerman Creek, Port Alma, was officially opened on Monday, giving boaties in CQ better access to hooking a barramundi or king threadfin out of the Fitzroy River.

The project was delivered by Queensland Government’s Maritime Safety Queensland with the Rockhampton Regional Council and Gladstone Ports Corp.

The work was completed by Queensland-company Australian Marine and Civil, which is now working on the $2.2 million upgrades to the Rosslyn Harbour boat ramps, expected to be finished by September.

The new $3.8 million recreational boating facility at Inkerman Creek.

The Inkerman Creek facility was part of the Port Alma boat ramp relocation project, committed in 2019, with work now to start on the second boat ramp at Casuarina Creek.

At the time, the state government committed to costs for construction of the in-water facilities and RRC and GPC contributed $2 million each for the car park construction at both locations.

The new Inkerman Creek boat ramp was delivered as part of the Port Alma boat ramp relocation project.

It was expected over the duration of a normal week that 150 vessels would be launched from the new ramps, a total of 7500 across the year.

The Inkerman Creek project took some extended time due to the challenging geotechnical conditions at the site as the reclamation fill was required to settle for 12 months before the car park and boat ramp construction could start.

The new boat ramp at Port Alma.

MSQ will own the in-water infrastructure and RRC will manage the facility.

Mayor Tony Williams, Councillor Ellen Smith, Keppel MP Brittany Lauga, Councillor Drew Wickerson and GPC celebrate the grand opening of the Inkerman Creek boat ramp at Port Alma.

Mayor Tony Williams said the project came to fruition thanks to consultation with community members and those advocating for a safer, more accessible location to fish and launch boats.

“This project is also a win for tourism, opening up additional recreational fishing tourism products in the Fitzroy Delta and Southern Keppel Bay,” he said.

GPC CEO Craig Haymes said it was fantastic to see the project come to fruition.

“GPC is proud to support the communities in which it operates,” he said.

Originally published as $3.8m Inkerman Creek boat ramp at Port Alma officially opens