There’s a fresh push to overhaul a notorious Woodgate facility.
Locals have started a petition calling for a new boat ramp at Walkers Point.
The ramp has been a topic of discussion for a number of years as people struggle to launch and retrieve their vessels at certain tides.
Woodgate and District Residents Association president Pauline Greer says the community can’t afford more band-aid solutions.
“It comes up just about every meeting that we have. We have a huge increase in new people moving to the area. A lot of people move here for the fact that you can go into the river to fish or out the front and they want somewhere that’s safe and functional at all times,” she says.
In response to a question on notice about the project in August 2022, Member for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said money hadn’t been set aside in the Queensland Transport Roads and Investment Program (QTRIP) 2021–22 to 2024–25 for upgrades.
“An upgrade to the Walkers Point boat ramp, including concept feasibility investigations and costings for the provision of a breakwater, remains on the list of priority recreational boating projects for consideration in a future works program,” Minister Bailey added.
The community is hitting back at further delays.
“About 4-5 years ago the State Government did a feasibility study on it and found it then to be a priority so to have it pushed back further again is really not the answer that the residents are looking for,” Ms Greer says.
The petition is aiming to have the project included in the 2023-2024 budget.
Paper copies are available at Woodgate and Childers businesses with plans for an online service too.
