Call for boat ramp funding

THE council has not given the redevelopment of a boat ramp at Emu Park “a fair go”, says Brett Svendsen.

Rockhampton Regional Council committed $122,000 during the planning stages of the Yeppoon Foreshore Development and the division two councillor yesterday challenged the authority to commit equal funding to this much-needed project.

Despite verbal support from Mayor Brad Carter in 2009 to resident and campaigner Clive King, no money has been committed and, Mr King says, no action. Mr King, who has spent endless hours researching, planning and promoting the need for a four-lane, all-tide ramp at the site, said yesterday he had the support of the business sector, the Coast Guard, the community and boating fraternity and all that was needed was council support.

“All we want is for council to write a letter to the government for the construction of a boat ramp for the 22,000 licence holders in the region,” he said.

“It’s not a want, it’s a need.”

Mayor Brad Carter said yesterday the council had shown support through talks with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, which is responsible for boat launching facilities in Queensland. He said the council would table a report at a full council meeting to determine its level of financial commitment, considering the impact to budget and rates.

“Rather than comparing projects, council engaging with the community and doing preliminary assessments is an appropriate manner to manage a project such as a boat ramp,” he said.

A previous construction estimate for the project by Member for Keppel Paul Hoolihan was up to $10 million.

Cr Svendsen, Mr King, resident and fisherman John Reed and LNP candidate for Keppel Bruce Young met at the site yesterday, where Mr Young said the issue of congestion at theRosslyn Bay Harbour was not going away and could not be “swept under the carpet”.