MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Tuesday 13th October 2009 For immediate release
CONCERN TOWNSVILLE BOATIES COULD BE LEFT IN THE LURCH
Member for Hinchinbrook, Andrew Cripps, says he is concerned at the prospect that recreational boat owners in the Townsville region could be left in the lurch by the reported absence of a planned recreational boating facility within the Townsville Marine Precinct.
Mr Cripps said boaties in the Townsville region had waited patiently for existing facilities to be upgraded and that it had long been understood the Port of Townsville intended to incorporate a new recreational boating facility into the port redevelopment.
“It has now been reported that a modern, public recreational boating facility of any size has not be provided for in the new Townville Marine Precinct at the Port of Townsville. If that’s accurate, it is a real concern for local recreational boat owners” said Mr Cripps.
“This concept was first promoted in the year 2000 when the boating registrations in the Townsville region were approximately 8,500. Now boat registrations are approximately 11,500, with no increase in all tide, all weather recreational boating facilities” he said.
“Therefore, it is imperative that a major recreational boating facility be provided for as part of the Townsville Marine Precinct. I have written to Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Stirling Hinchliffe and Minister for Transport, Rachel Nolan, in this regard” said Mr Cripps.
Mr Cripps said he recently tabled a petition in the Queensland Parliament on behalf of 4,145 boat owners in the Townsville region supporting the development of a recreational boating facility in the Townsville Marine Precinct, which was promoted by Sunfish NQ.
“Given this petition has been signed by more than one third of boat owners in the Townsville region, it should be taken seriously as an expression of the views of boat owners in the Townsville region in relation to this issue” said Mr Cripps.
Mr Cripps said boaties in the Townsville region had waited patiently for existing facilities to be upgraded and that it had long been understood the Port of Townsville intended to incorporate a new recreational boating facility into the port redevelopment.
“It has now been reported that a modern, public recreational boating facility of any size has not be provided for in the new Townville Marine Precinct at the Port of Townsville. If that’s accurate, it is a real concern for local recreational boat owners” said Mr Cripps.
“This concept was first promoted in the year 2000 when the boating registrations in the Townsville region were approximately 8,500. Now boat registrations are approximately 11,500, with no increase in all tide, all weather recreational boating facilities” he said.
“Therefore, it is imperative that a major recreational boating facility be provided for as part of the Townsville Marine Precinct. I have written to Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Stirling Hinchliffe and Minister for Transport, Rachel Nolan, in this regard” said Mr Cripps.
Mr Cripps said he recently tabled a petition in the Queensland Parliament on behalf of 4,145 boat owners in the Townsville region supporting the development of a recreational boating facility in the Townsville Marine Precinct, which was promoted by Sunfish NQ.
“Given this petition has been signed by more than one third of boat owners in the Townsville region, it should be taken seriously as an expression of the views of boat owners in the Townsville region in relation to this issue” said Mr Cripps.
