$9 million outlay for Daintree Ferry infrastructure

Douglas Shire Council

Bryan Littlely

Journalist

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Infrastructure upgrades to service a new Daintree Ferry will cost $9 million.

Douglas Shire Council has received offers to design, construct, deliver and operate the new Daintree ferry while more than $9 million has been committed to upgrading surrounding roads and infrastructure on either side of the river crossing.

Tuesday’s council meeting heard the recommendation and councillors unanimously carried the motion to fund over multiple budgets the landside infrastructure design which will include priority, dual waiting and exit lanes that will aim to reduce queue lengths and wait times.

It has been recommended a contract for the work – which aligns with the planned introduction of a new larger capacity ferry – be awarded to south-west Queensland company Durack Civil.

Mover of the motion, Councillor Michael Rees called it a “ginormous body of work”.

“We can’t afford to wait,’’ he said.

“We are hoping that the new ferry will transport 30 per cent more traffic It sounds like there will be work done on both sides simultaneously and I am very happy to hear that some of the concept drawings will be published at some point so the community can see what we are talking about and it is not just abstract.’’

The tender process for the ferry itself closed on April 9. An evaluation report will be prepared subject to evaluation and negotiation with tenderers.

Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the completion of the tender process and the contract for landside infrastructure was significant.

“The Daintree River ferry upgrade and associated landside civil works will provide quicker access for locals and tourists across the Daintree River and reduce queuing congestion and potential blockages during peak tourism season,” she said.

She added in the meeting that the journey to getting a new “shiny ferry” and supporting infrastructure had been a long time coming.

“Finally it is starting to move along. It has been a while.’’

 

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