Password: yorkeys
- The new Yorkeys Knob boating facility is a first of its kind for Queensland boaties, featuring a six-lane boat ramp with three floating walkways.
- The $22.4 million project 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 2023 the new facility is now open just in time for the September school holidays and the Black Marlin fishing season.
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.
There are many key features of the new Yorkeys Knob boating facility that will service the local boating community for many years to come including – improved safety, reduced congestion, reduced wait times and improved parking.
The scope of works delivered is a first of its kind for Queensland boaties, featuring a six-lane boat ramp with three floating walkways; two new breakwaters; a dredged basin and access channel; reclamation works; queuing beaches; a new access road and footpath; a new amenities block and golf course protective fencing.
The breakwaters provide protection for boaties from wave action and prevailing weather. The onshore facilities boast 135 car-trailer parking bays and 63 single car parks which will take parking off the nearby Buckley Street and surrounds.
Funding jointly provided by Transport and Main Roads’ Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) branch and Cairns Regional Council (CRC).
MSQ owns the in-water infrastructure and CRC now manages the facility.
This is a timely reminder for all skippers to check their safety equipment on board, check the weather before you go out, and let someone know where you are going and when you intend to return.
Quotes attributable to Barron River MP Craig Crawford:
“We love boating and fishing in Cairns 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.
“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.”
Quotes attributable to the Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey:
“The Palaszczuk Government committed to build the new mini harbour as a 2017 Election Commitment and partnered with Cairns Regional Council to fund and deliver this project for the Yorkeys Knob boating community.
“‘Craig Crawford has taken up the cause of FNQ boaties and driven this huge project from the get go.
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.
“We’ve worked closely with the project’s key stakeholders throughout the planning, design and delivery phases. I particularly want to thank CAREFISH, the local recreational fishing stakeholder group for their valuable input and support for the project.
“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.
“I also want give a special mention to the Queensland owned contractor Halls Contracting who has done a great job in successfully delivering this project during a very challenging period.
“This is a great example of state and local government working together to deliver benefits for Queenslanders.”
Quotes attributable to the Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning:
“Council has contributed $3.5 million to help fund this project, which I know will be welcomed by local boaties.
“Boating and fishing are extremely popular pastimes in the Far North and there is a real demand for facilities like this in our region.
“I am confident that this much-needed boat ramp will by well patronised by boaties.
“As well as improving safety and providing more parking for users, it will also significantly reduce wait times for people launching and retrieving boats.”
FURTHER INFORMATION
On Saturday, a community celebration to mark the official opening will be hosted by Barron River MP Craig 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.
Everyone is invited.
The boat ramp will be open for boaties to launch, with the weather predicted to be mostly sunny and winds SE 10-15kn.
