Study to evaluate impact of ramp

AN ENVIRONMENTAL study of a proposed boat ramp at Yorkeys Knob will take place following concerns of its impact on protected bushland.

Yorkeys Knob Boat Ramp Action group has submitted a parliamentary e-petition with 403 signatures calling for the Department of Transport to cancel plans to build the ramp.

Secretary Marilyn Wallace said the construction works would interfere with the Ray Howarth Reserve, a bushland area adjacent to the marina which is protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Department of Environment wildlife assessment, procedure compliance and northern operation director Lindsay Delzoppo said a clearing permit would be needed.

“The Act does provide protections to wildlife (plants and animals) deemed to be in the wild in Queensland,” he said.

“The proposed development is partly located within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which means the development would require assessment and a permit from the department under the Marine Parks Act 2004.”

TMR has awarded a contract for an environmental study of the boat ramp site.

A TMR spokesman said the study, to be done by consultancy group BMT Eastern Pty Ltd, would involve a marine and terrestrial ecology survey of the development site and access road route.

“This consultancy has been specifically tailored to ensure any concerns raised by stakeholders and the community will be investigated to achieve the best outcome,” he said.

“When completed this will form the basis for environmental approval applications and detailed design works ….”

The investigations will include seabed sediment sampling, modelling of tidal, storm tide and flood flows in the development area and modelling of breakwater configuration.

Cairns CAREFISH co-ordinator Paul Aubin said he was optimistic the study would find the least environmentally-encroaching solution.

“There’s no place that’s going to have zero environmental effect, but most of the boat club site is reclaimed and has low environmental impact,” he said.

“I would like to see the report make a comparison between the other potential sites and help alleviate the concerns people have.”

The boat ramp environmental study is scheduled to be completed by March next year.