Approvals for the Victoria Point and Coochiemudlo Jetty upgrades are caught up in State Government red tape leaving Redland City residents waiting for much needed new facilities.
Responding to claims made in The Redland Times and Bayside Bulletin that Council had failed to upgrade the jetties, Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Council had been successful in getting the Queensland Government to commit funds for the upgrades and associated dredging work but that it could not proceed until approval and permits were received from the State.
You may also like these stories
“The funds for this work have been available for the past 18 months,” Cr Williams said.
“However, approvals and permits for both the jetty upgrades and for the required dredging are bogged down in approval red tape between the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing,” she said.
“Under the Deed of Agreement, the Queensland Government is responsible for all the current investigations, design and permits as well as for delivering the jetty upgrades.
“We are also waiting on these permits and approvals before being able to proceed with the dredging component of the project which is the component being delivered by Council.
“The Premier has failed to acknowledge the responsibility that the State has undertaken by the Deed of Agreement with Council, which includes delivering investigation, design and construction phases of the Coochiemudlo Island ferry terminal replacement.
“This has been confirmed in writing to Council on a number of occasions and our local state representative Peter Dowling MP has also made representations to the State Government to try to ensure approval of these projects,” Cr Williams said.
Division 4 Councillor Lance Hewlett said the Queensland Government needs to get its act together so that this important project can begin and deliver much needed new infrastructure for the people of Redland City.
“This includes dredging for Victoria Point, Coochiemudlo and Toondah channels as well as upgrades to the Victoria Point ferry terminal and replacement of the Coochiemudlo Island ferry terminal—all important projects for the people in my division,” Cr Hewlett said
Redland City Council has contributed $1.75 million towards the total cost of the Coochiemudlo jetty replacement.
