Stories and events of the Kaurareg homeland of Kaiwalagal, the Torres Strait homeland and
Thursday, 19 December 2024 Cape York homelands of the Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang Peoples. EDITORIAL l M: 0419 656 277 l E: christine@torres.news
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Horn Island wharf goes under cover
Father Charles Loban and Ports North Board chair Russell Beer on the new Horn Island pontoon passenger facility. Pic by Dean Saffron. The Horn Island new pontoon passenger facility was officially opened on Monday. Works included a major upgrade to the Horn Island port to significantly increase capacity and deliver safer, more accessible passenger facilities. The project delivered a new pontoon, passenger waiting areas and a raised pedestrian walkway along the full length of the causeway, which was compliant
with standards for people with disabilities. The new pontoon incorporated waiting areas, a roof cover to protect passengers from the weather and a capacity to berth two 12-metre ferries, or vessels up to 25 metres. Celebrations were opened with an acknowledgement by Father Charles Loban, followed by a Blessing and anointment of the new facility.
Ports North (PN) Board chair Russell Beer spoke on behalf of the Ports North Corporation, which started the work in early September and was finished by the end of November. “This sort of marine infrastructure is critical in places like this part of the world and we are very pleased to have upgraded to such an important facility,” Mr Beer said. “We spoke to a lot of
stakeholders when we were designing this and you can see some of the benefits of this. “We now have a covered walkway basically from when you’re off the bus to when you get onto the ferry. “The fact that so many people have to go through this facility to fly to Cairns and other places for medical treatment means that to be able to bring wheelchairs onto here and to actually have some
proper access for those who have those sort of medical needs is very important. “As this area continues to grow and becomes more and more of an important governance, we have looked at the future.” He said the local team was vital to its operation. “I’d like to thank Belford and his team,” he said. Story continued & pics on P4 N
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