Newell Beach boat ramp goes out to tender

Environmental approvals have been signed off and the tender is now open for the Newell Beach boat ramp upgrade, bringing construction another step closer.

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said having addressed environmental provisions, Maritime Safety Queensland could now go to tender for construction on the $3.2m all-tide boat ramp.

"This is a huge project milestone with works expected to get underway later this year,” Ms Lui said.

“This important all-tide facility was a government commitment in 2017 and we’re delivering on that undertaking for the Newell Beach boaties."

The long-awaited project has had a few amendments since preliminary design consultation with the Douglas Shire and 40 members of the community who attended in January 2020.

Redevelopments to the concept designs have included a fixed walkway in the middle of the ramp, an upgraded facility that has acceptable flooding impacts, and a fishing platform.

Ms Lui said funding would be provided by the Palaszczuk Government's Boating Infrastructure Program.

“This project is another example of the government providing better public boating facilities across the state and supporting jobs for Queensland marine contractors,” she said.

Ms Lui said tenders for construction will be open until August, after extensive consultation.

"Consultation with key stakeholders and the wider community provided some valuable input into the concept design and we thank all those who contributed,” she said.

"More recently, the community requested a fishing platform be included as part of the works.

“The project team has included an indicative concept for this in the tender documents as a 'Design and Construct' component.”

Prospective tenderers are invited to register their interest and download the tender documents from the Queensland Government’s eTender website.