By Raquel Mustillo
KINGSTON District Council will not proceed with the reinstatement of the Maria Creek Boat Launching Facility following overwhelming community support for its in principle decision.
A ballot of Kingston District Council ratepayers found 78pc supported council’s in principle position not to proceed with the reinstatement of the facility after an independent report found rate revenue would need to increase by up to 19pc to fund the project.
More than 20pc of respondents indicated they were willing to pay a capital cost of $7.6m to reinstate the facility and a minimum of $626,000 recurrent funding each year for dredging work and depreciation.
A report undertaken by BRM Advisory found the Maria Creek Community Focus Group’s preferred hybrid model, comprising of a 60m southern breakwater extension, 250m breakwater repairs and. 350,000m3 dreading on the southern side of the channel could add up to $9.6m to council’s operating base – or an average of 9.3pc – over 10 years.
In February, councillors discussed the independent business case in February following the closure of the facility in 2019 due to sand and seagrass build-up.
Kingston District chief executive Nat Traeger said council will move its focus on consideration of effects and options of removal for jetty amenity or take a do nothing approach.
Ms Traeger said council was frustrated and disappointed it was unable to fund the Maria Creek facility, saying the significant capital outlay and the recurrent annual costs were too high for the coastal council.
“Even if we borrow the money at $7.6m, we have got the ongoing costs every year and we already have a $1m operating deficit that we don’t know how to get down and that is without that facility,” she said.
“It has been a long drawn out process and there has been a mountain of community engagement, a lot of money spent on consultants and technical notes and it is frustrating whatever we do, we can’t please anyone.
“If you think back 20 years ago, there was no Maria Creek boat launching facility, but people get accustomed to having a service. “It’s not that we don’t want to fund it, we just can’t.”
Ms Traeger said council was now focusing on a partial breakwater removal, with studies underway on the cost and environmental impact.
However, she said the partial breakwater option was likely to cost $1m, along with approval processes with State Government authorities.
“We will certainly try and get funding, but a lot of people don’t like to fund things that don’t produce something palatable,” Ms Traeger said.
“Council may take out a generational loan, with interest rates being so long we could lock in a $1m loan over 10 years and have the future generations of ratepayers pay it.
“We haven’t worked any of that out yet as we are waiting for the technical note which will provide council an opportunity to see what might happen in terms of sand movement at the boat ramp.”
