A Bowen icon is thought to be in danger according to local Chamber of Commerce, who believe it could either fall into disrepair or even be demolished.
President of Bowen Chamber of Commerce Bruce Hedditch said the Bowen Jetty, which is currently under commercial lease by North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) Corporation, could soon have no use for the company.
“We’re focused on saving it, because once the tugs leave and go up to Abbot Point, North Queensland Bulk Ports have no further use for it,” Mr Hedditch said.
“[The Chamber] understand – whether it’s true or not – that the council have no interest in it either.”
NQBP currently use the jetty and wharf for tugboat operations at Port of Abbot Point, and recently completed $3.6 million worth of works programs on the wharf.
Those works repaired the worst timber sections to “ensure it remains open for public access and available to meet commercial needs of the tugs”.
Mr Hedditch said – as the chamber understood it – NQBP would be moving their tug operation exclusively to Abbot Point port to limit expenditure, which he “understood entirely.”
Rumours have swirled in past years that the 154-year-old jetty heritage listed site has become too costly to maintain, and should NQBP move, no one would pick up the expensive slack.
An NQBP spokesperson said the company “knows how important the wharf is to the Bowen community” and they were working with key stakeholders to consider “long-term infrastructure options for the Abbot Point tugs.”
“We plan to engage with all relevant stakeholders at the appropriate time when considering the future of the Bowen Wharf as it relates to the Abbot Point towage infrastructure,” the spokesperson said.
“This will involve ongoing consultation with Whitsunday Regional Council, Bowen Collinsville Enterprise, Bowen Chamber of Commerce, our shareholding ministers, and, of course, the community.”
Mr Hedditch said the Bowen Chamber were hoping to come up with a plan to turn the jetty into a tourism venture.
“It’s very early days, but we just can’t let it get knocked over. There are not many tourist attractions in Bowen, so if we can turn it into that, it would be lovely,” he said.
“We’re going to come up with a concept that will create a lot of interest, that’s our next move.”
Bowen Chamber believes the iconic Bowen Jetty could be soon vacated by North Queensland Bulk Ports leading to a potential demolition
