Boaties ramp up anger

RECREATIONAL boaties looking forward to the upgraded facilities at Clump Point at Mission Beach will first have to launch their boats elsewhere during construction.

Signs went up at the site on February 19 advising the ramp would be closed from this Friday until the end of the year while the first stage of the project is carried out.

Access for existing commercial users will be maintained throughout construction, however recreational boat users will have to go elsewhere.

The Department of Main Roads and Transport has suggested the use of alternative boat ramps at Maria Creek, Kurrimine Beach, Mourilyan Harbour, Hull Heads and two existing ramps at South Mission Beach.

But members of the Mission Beach Boating Community Facebook page want access to Clump Point on at least weekends and public holidays.

“On a very positive note, this will be a great project for Mission Beach once it is completed,” a spokesman for the group said.

“We should demand, not ask, that they allow recreational boaters on holidays.”

The spokesman also said the alternatives suggested were either too far away or were not viable alternatives.

“We fought for these facilities for a long time. I’m not knocking what they’re doing but there is nowhere to launch the boats and people are talking of launching on the beach, modifying their trailer to launch on the beach,” he said.

“The Hull River boat ramp at Jackie Jackie St is probably the best option. But for a recreational operator who goes out depending on their holidays and weekends and cannot then plan trips based on tides and sea state direction (ie, most recreational operators) we absolutely need to have the build-up of sediment at the mouth of the Hull River removed urgently.”

Tully resident Mike Wiltshire moved to the region six months ago and needs a pontoon to board a boat because of a disability.

He agreed the Hull River and Cardwell boat ramps were unusable for boaties like him.