Funding for new pontoon at Mourilyan Harbour

The Minister for Transport John Mickel has announced $200,000 in funding for a pontoon to be added to the new recreational boat ramp in Mourilyan Harbour.

"This is in addition to the $1 million funding we recently announced to build the new recreational boat ramp," Mr Mickel said.

At a meeting in Mourilyan on Monday, Queensland Transport, Ports Corporation Queensland and the Mourilyan Ports Advisory Group agreed on the preferred location for the new ramp.

Minister for Main Roads and Local Government and Member for Mulgrave Warren Pitt welcomed the new pontoon.

Mr Pitt said a breakwater would also be incorporated into the design, adjacent to the new three-lane boat ramp, to be built with equal funding from Queensland Transport and Ports Corporation Queensland.

The design and approval processes for the new boat ramp will begin as soon as possible, and Queensland Transport hopes to complete the project by December 2008.

In the other issue involving Queensland Transport in Mourilyan Harbour, no short-term solution has yet been found regarding a replacement for the existing jetty's lower-level landing, which was removed due to safety concerns.

Queensland Transport representatives have told the local commercial fishing reference group that engineering companies have said a short-term facility could not be built and attached to the jetty until at least mid-December. A floating pontoon option for commercial fishing use at the jetty would not be available until late February 2008.

Commercial fishermen are keen to have a facility in place as soon as possible.

Discussions between Government, Ports Corporation and the fishing community will be ongoing to find a viable long term solution that suits commercial interests.

In the meantime, an independent report is being conducted into the structural integrity of the jetty to determine its future capabilities.

The meeting also discussed planning, management and funding issues associated with long-term commercial fishing facilities in the harbour.

Media contact: Chris Brown on 3235 1944