General News
19 July, 2026
Campaign for jetty falters
THE fight to restore Perry Harvey Jetty at Mission Beach is continuing, with local boaties again asking council to tell them if any funding from its 2026-27 budget will be allocated to refurbish and repair the jetty.
The latest lobbying of Cassowary Coast Regional Council follows a move by state Member for Hill Shane Knuth, who recently asked the government whether state funding could be made available to fix the jetty.
In parliament, he questioned whether the government would fund the replacement of the jetty’s access stairs and platforms, which were stripped away earlier this year due to safety hazards, leaving the facility without a funded plan for repair.
But Mr Knuth’s question to the minister, Brent Mickelberg, hit a roadblock.
“The facility is owned and managed by Cassowary Coast Regional Council (CCRC), who are responsible for its maintenance, safety and any decisions regarding repair, upgrade, replacement or demolition/retirement of the jetty or its components – such as access stairs and platforms,” Mr Mickelberg said in reply.
Crucially, the minister revealed the jetty fails to qualify for the state’s recreational boating infrastructure grants.
He noted the asset does not support vessel access, especially following the 2023 completion of the nearby Clump Point boating facility, which features multiple berths and a boat ramp.
“Infrastructure such as the jetty – which primarily supports fishing, tourism and general pedestrian access – does not align with the core objectives of the recreational boating infrastructure program,” Mr Mickelberg said, adding that responsibility for its upkeep rests solely with the CCRC.
“However, local governments may submit proposals for grant consideration, which are assessed on a case-by-case basis against program criteria, priorities and available funding.”
After the state government virtually washed its hands of the project, the Mission Beach Boating Association’s hopes now lie back with a tight council budget.
Council’s recently handed down 2026-27 budget allocates $1.39 million for “marine facilities” capital works this financial year, which might sound impressive but has to be stretched across an extensive regional network that includes six jetties and wharves, alongside 16 boat ramps.
The MBBA has spent months trying to pressure the council into committing to the repairs.
Whether any of that $1.39 million will flow to Mission Beach remains highly uncertain.
The Perry Harvey Jetty is also locked in a silent funding war with the Cardwell Jetty, which council previously noted requires major structural repairs to its pylons and presents “high-priority risks”.
Worse still for Mission Beach locals, council maintains an official stance that the Perry Harvey Jetty is primarily a fishing platform rather than a critical boating asset. Advocates for the jetty fear the council will naturally cross Mission Beach off the priority list to focus its limited funds on Cardwell.
Read More: Mission Beach