Sue Brooks’ Blog

sue August 15th, 2008

It is one of those painful times when it appears trees are again in the way of development. This time the trees are some very lovely large old gums on the foreshore adjacent the Gatakers Boat Ramp. While I understand that many, many people enjoy boating and require access to the water, it is a shame that we couldn’t find a suitable location for access and car parking in between the trees. Alas this was not to be as the boat ramp is under the direction and approval of the State Government and Council is responsible for providing appropriate car parking, also under direction from the State Government. I’m advised that the trees have to be removed due to drainage works as well as access issues.

The timing of tree removal is also poor in that it is nesting season. Council has ensured that a wildlife catcher will be in attendence next week when the trees are scheduled to be removed and the catcher has already been on site. He has assessed the need for possum traps prior to tree removal as it is likely that a possum or two could be in residence. I will also discuss the opportunity for Council to install some nesting boxes in the immediate area as neighbouring residents believe this would assist the local bird life.

A large portion of the car park surface will be porous as per Councils request and I believe this grassed carpark is preferable to a concrete or bitumen one. 

I have inserted the media release below which should also appear on the Council web site. I will endeavour to see if I can provide a link to a plan of the boatramp/carparking next week.

Cheers, Sue

For Immediate Release

15/ 08/ 2008

     Subject: Works starts on Gatakers Landing car park

Work will start on a 45-car and boat trailer facility at Gatakers Bay on Monday (August 18).

The plans, approved by the EPA, includes 45 car and boat trailer parks as well as eight car parks, a rigging and de-rigging area, two fish cleaning stations and lighting.

The car park will be built in two sections on the eastern and western sides of the Esplanade at Gatakers Bay. A bitumen rigging and de-rigging area and up to 10 car and trailer parks will be built on the eastern section near the ramp.

The remainder of the car and trailer parks will be built on the western side of the Esplanade. In a bid to soften the visual impact of the carpark (Council did not want wall to wall bitumen on the foreshore) the western portion will be predominantly made using grass pavers.

The specially designed pavers allow the grass to grow but support vehicles to stop the car park turning into an expanse of sand-filled potholes.

“This project has been a long time coming,” Fraser Coast Regional Council Rural and Urban Infrastructure Portfolio Chairman Councillor David Dalgleish said.

“It will be a great benefit to the Bay’s fishing community.”

The project is part of a joint venture involving Fraser Coast Regional Council, which is responsible for the land-based facilities, Queensland Transport, which is responsible for building the boat ramp and recreational lobby group Sunfish.

Hervey Bay City Council has budgeted $400,000 for the project, Sunfish gained a $100,000 Federal Government grant to put towards facilities such as two fish cleaning stations and turtle-friendly lighting and QT will spend about $250,000 building the ramp.

While the Council has EPA approval to build the car park and land-based facilities it is waiting for Queensland Transport to gain EPA approval to build a new two-lane boat ramp to replace the aging single lane ramp near the Gatakers Landing Restaurant.

To undertake the project some gum trees will have to be removed.

The Council is doing its best to save a mature gum tree on the beachside of the project.

The tree removal saddened FCRC Environmental Sustainability Portfolio Chairman Councillor Sue Brooks.

“It is a shame that these mature trees could not be incorporated into the design but Council will plant replacement trees in an effort to compensate the losses,” she said.

ENDS

For media enquiries contact Fraser Coast Regional Council Rural and Urban Infrastructure Portfolio Chairman Councillor David Dalgleish on 0417 777 194 or FCRC Director of External Services Ron Smith on 4197 4444.

ENDS

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