Dream come true for Newell Beach boaties

Opening new boat ramp

Jamie Jansen

Journalist

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Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr and Member for Cook Cyntia Lui cutting the ribbon to officially open the long-awaited boat ramp at Newell Beach. Image: Jamie Jansen

After eight months of construction, the newly completed boat ramp at Newell Beach officially opened today, just in time for the peak reef fishing season.

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr and Member for Cook Cyntia Lui officially opened the long-awaited boat ramp this morning by cutting the ribbon.

The new boat ramp has been on the wishlist for local boaties for a long time as the old design made it impossible for big boat owners to launch their boat during low tide. 

The new facility features a new causeway, a two-lane boat ramp with a central fixed walkway and a fishing platform. Image: Jamie Jansen

The new design provides berthing access at any stage of the tide without boaties having to get into the water.

It features a new, two-lane, boat ramp with a central fixed walkway and a much-needed fishing platform.

Community safety

Cynthia Lui MP said she was pleased to announce the much-anticipated ramp is now open to the public.

“It has been a long time coming but it was really important we got this right,” she said during her speech.

“In 2017 we made an election commitment to deliver this local infrastructure and I remember standing on the old ramp talking to Newell Beach fisherman Bill Alison about some of the challenges that boaties in the local area faced with getting their boat into the water.

“In particular, Bill told the story about how one day, his boat got stuck in the mud as he was coming home from a day’s fishing and he had to get out of the boat and drag it to the edge of the ramp. And then he pointed out the crocodiles that live on the other side of the river and I knew that there had to be a better way.

“Of course that was a real concern and community safety is most important.”

State government funding

The state government invested $3.5 million into building the infrastructure.

“I am very honoured with the amount of community contribution that went into this,” Ms Lui said. We’ve had a number of consultations with the community to hear their feedback because we know how important local knowledge is.”

Mayor Michael Kerr said he really appreciates the state government putting in the funding.

“The new boat ramp is there to increase the livability of the local people. Now everyone has access to the boat ramp at all times, even the bigger boats.

“It is very important that instead of just focusing on tourism, we remember the locals who use facilities like this.

“We have over 1300 boats registered in the Douglas Shire, that is one boat per nine residents. Facilities like these are so important for the locals.

“There was lots of discussion about the design of the new boat and there were concerns about the environmental side of it. Community consultation and extra water studies made sure there weren’t going to be any issues.”

Historical monument

Mayor Kerr said that he is looking forward to the Douglas Historical Society to design a monument on the history of the boat ramp.

“It will probably include some of the wooden beams of the old jetty. Many older people have lots of memories at the old boat ramp. When you take something significant away like a boat ramp it also takes away those young sweetheart romance memories.”

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr and Member for Cook Cyntia Lui after cutting the ribbon. Image: Jamie Jansen

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