Flying down to Brisbane for a face-to-face meeting with Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey on Friday, Mayor Julie Hall sought answers to important questions in hopes it will improve infrastructure in the Whitsundays.
Adding her weight to the good work already levelled by Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP, Mayor Hall reiterated the community sentiment that the State funded Shute Harbour Boat Ramp was not “practical”.
“The boat ramp is a Department of Main Roads asset, and I urged Minister Bailey to consider the strong feedback from our community that they are not happy with the current fixed walkway structure,” she said.
“I stressed to the Minister that we want to put the past behind us, and we acknowledge the structure was engineered to withstand a cyclone in a harbour without a breakwater, but community feedback indicates the walkway is just not practical.”
Minister Bailey has now agreed to work alongside Council and provide senior staff from Maritime Safety Queensland to revisit the options to improve the “ease of use”.
Mayor Hall also raised state road maintenance issues which she said has a “maintenance backlog” of $6.5 million.
Minister Bailey said they had already added a further $1 million in funding for additional gravel to be placed on sections of Suttor Development Road and Mount Coolon to Belyando Crossing.
During the meeting, the topic of exponential population growth putting a strain on the main access route to Airlie Beach was also discussed.
“The road is becoming congested, and planning of this important corridor needs to be brought forward,” said Mayor Hall.
She was then informed that the Department of Transport and Main Roads will revisit the modelling used in the 2016 Shute Harbour Road plans to inform the best outcome for future upgrades.
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Julie Hall with Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey. Photo supplied
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