Funding for "immediate upgrades"

Scarborough Harbour is to get almost $4 million in Queensland Government funding for “immediate upgrades”.

It will “kickstart priority public infrastructure upgrades” and is part of $13.2 million for the eight State-owned-and-managed boat harbours.

Scarborough Harbour receives $3.9 million to “improve safety, access and amenities” while final tweaks are made to its long-term master plan.

A Transport and Main Roads (TMR) spokesperson said the funding will “focus on improved land-side facilities for recreational boaties, local community and visitors” in precincts 1A, 1B and 11B.

These includes upgraded public access, pathways, landscaping and lighting, new public amenities, parking upgrades, road safety improvements, improved recreational boating facilities and access and “interventions to deter hooning”.

The spokesperson said planning and design work will start immediately with construction expected in late 2026.

Member for Redcliffe Kerri-Anne Dooley said: “Business owners around this harbour have been asking for this for many, many years."

She said initial work will see “significant upgrades to car park, beautification, green space” … and confirmed “some anti-hooning devices”.

Mark Robertson, owner Scarborough Marina, believes the funding will make a “big difference”.

“The boating industry is growing steadily and solidly and needs more facilities, so the opportunity to improve what we have is very much welcome,” he said.

Speaking of the State’s plans, TMR Minister Brent Mickelberg said: “We want to see more viable and prosperous boat harbours up and down the coast,”

“This funding will lay the foundation for community access, business and service opportunities and provide for new jobs in enterprises like marinas, slipways, chandleries, public boat ramps and maritime tourism operations across the State’s coastline.”

Planning is also underway for harbours at Manly, Urangan and Rosslyn Bay, with Bowen, Mooloolaba, Snapper Creek (Tin Can Bay) and Cabbage Tree Creek (Shorncliffe) to follow.