Crisafulli Government to deliver long-awaited upgrade to Walkers Point boat ramp
- The Crisafulli Government will upgrade vital safety upgrades to the Walkers Point boat ramp at Woodgate.
- Local community has been campaigning for upgrades due to safety concerns for boaties and their vessels.
- Construction for the $3 million project due to start mid-year, to be complete by end of 2025.
The Crisafulli Government has announced critical upgrades will soon begin to the Walkers Point boat ramp in Woodgate, improving access for boaties to the Great Sandy Marine Park.
The upgrades are estimated to cost $3 million and include complete reconstruction of the boat ramp's two lanes, with the provision of a floating walkway and the construction of a rock wall.
These upgrades will improve safety and provide ease of access and retrieval of vessels currently affected by fast flowing tides at this location.
The local community has been campaigning for an upgrade for several years due to safety concerns for boaties and their vessels, especially during peak tourism seasons.
The previous Labor Government ignored the local community's calls, despite an upgrade to the boat ramp being listed as a priority 1 project in both 2017 and 2022 Queensland Recreational Boating Facilites Demand Forecasting studies.
The Walkers Point boat ramp upgrade is being delivered by Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) under a $6 million program funded by the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg announced detailed design work is underway and featured a complete overhaul of the current facility.
"This upgrade should have happened a long time ago but the community's calls for help fell on deaf ears with the former Labor Government who dragged their heels on the project," Minister Mickelberg said.
"Walkers Point is hugely popular with local anglers and tourists, and they've been dealing with a sub-par boat ramp for too long.
"It's important for safety and useability to be improved, which is why construction will start under a Crisafulli Government mid-year with completion late-2025, weather and conditions permitting."
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett thanked his local community for their patience in their fight for an upgrade.
"For seven frustrating years, since it was recommended as a top priority boat ramp for works, we have campaigned for this upgrade, receiving only dismissive and insulting responses from the former Labor Government," Mr Bennett said.
"The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its promises for regional Queensland.
"Today marks a milestone for our community and a huge win for the region."
