Community
8 September, 2023
Long-awaited Yorkeys Knob boat ramp opens
THE new $22.4 million Yorkeys Knob boating facility – the first of its kind for Queensland boaties – was officially opened today by Transport Minister Mark Bailey and Barron River MP Craig Crawford.
The facility, featuring a six-lane boat ramp with three floating walkways, was jointly funded by Transport and Main Roads and Cairns Regional Council.
Planning for the project has been underway since 2017, onsite works started in February 2022, with completion in early-September. It opens just in time for the September school holidays and the Black Marlin fishing season.
Mr Crawford said Cairns residents loved boating and fishing with about one vessel for every 14 residents.
“With six lanes and 135 car-trailer parking bays, this new boat ramp will drastically reduce overcrowding and “ramp rage” on those perfect days when everyone wants to get out to the Reef,” he said.
“It has been an election promise and passion project of mine for nine years, and I’m absolutely stoked to see it officially open.
“On Saturday, I’m hosting a community celebration to mark the official opening with free breakfast, coffee, stubbie holders and fishing lures, and everyone is invited to come down and have a look.
“You don’t even need a boat, they’ve been catching decent-sized barra off the rock wall.”
The location of the new recreational boating facility is to the north of Cairns at on reclaimed land between the Yorkeys Knob Boat Club and the Half Moon Bay Golf Club, Buckley Street, Yorkeys Knob.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the government committed to build the new mini harbour as a 2017 election promise.
“‘Craig Crawford has taken up the cause of FNQ boaties and driven this huge project from the get-go,” he said.
“It is a great credit to him that he has never given up and seen it through to opening as it will make a huge difference for local boaties.
"Six years in the making, 56,000 tonnes of rock armour and over 55,000 man hours worked on the project supporting more than 40 jobs throughout the life of the project, many of these local – I am so pleased to announce the official opening of the new Yorkeys Knob boating facility.
"There has also been very good consultation throughout the project with the neighbouring Yorkeys Knob Golf Club. The golf course protective fencing is a unique and well thought out design to specifically suit the needs of the golf club while maintaining aesthetics.”
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said the council contributed $3.5m to help fund the project.
“I am confident that this much-needed boat ramp will by well patronised by boaties,” he said.
“As well as improving safety and providing more parking for users, it will also significantly reduce wait times for people launching and retrieving boats.”
On Saturday, a community celebration to mark the official opening will be hosted by Mr Crawford at the new boat ramp between 6am and 9am.
With the support of the Hekili Outrigger Canoe Club, there will be a free breakfast, free coffee and a giveaway of free stubbie holders and fishing lures.
