Shute Harbour Marine Terminal in the Whitsundays has been re-opened today, thanks to a total investment of $63.5 million by local, state and federal governments.
Eligible works received joint funding from the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Natural Disaster Relief Recovery Arrangements, with Whitsunday Regional Council providing additional funding.
Coordinator-General for the National Recovery and Resilience Agency the Hon Shane L Stone AC QC said that the flagship $63.5 million recovery project had resulted in the facility being built back better than ever.
“The Shute Harbour Terminal was extensively damaged during Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie in March 2017. Heavy winds and a severe storm tide wiped out five buildings, six pontoons and eight gangways of the original terminal.
“Shute Harbour is a gateway to the internationally renowned Whitsunday Islands, which is why all three levels of government have worked closely together on this – it needed to be rebuilt to high standards.
“With an investment of more than $30 million by the federal government, the facility is now more resilient than ever. A new sea wall has raised the entire site by up to an extra metre.
“This has been a long-term and complex rebuild project that has also driven employment and economic recovery in the Whitsunday region.
“The Australian Government invests heavily in natural disaster recovery projects across the country through joint disaster recovery arrangements with the states and territories,” Mr Stone said.
