General News
10 May, 2025
Ferry reaches critical stage
THE new Daintree River ferry has reached a critical stage with Douglas Shire Council considering offers to design, construct, deliver and operate the new vessel ferry while more than $9 million has been committed to upgrading surrounding roads and infrastructure on either side of the crossing.
The landside infrastructure design will include priority, dual waiting and exit lanes that will aim to reduce queue lengths and waiting times.
Councillors voted at last week’s monthly meeting to award a contract for the work – which aligns with the planned introduction of a new larger capacity ferry – to south-west Queensland company Durack Civil. The tender process for the ferry ended on April 9. A report for councillors will be prepared subject to evaluation and negotiation with tenderers.
Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the completion of the tender process and the contract for landside infrastructure were significant.
“The Daintree River ferry upgrade and associated landside civil works will provide quicker access for locals and tourists across the Daintree River and reduce queuing congestion and potential blockages during peak tourism season,” she said.
“We need to improve the road infrastructure both north and south of the river to accommodate the eventual larger four-lane ferry,” Cr Scomazzon said.
“An $8.8 million contract has been awarded to Durack Civil to develop the new infrastructure which will contain dual waiting and exits lanes, reducing waiting times for locals and tourists.
“Work will hopefully be started after the wet season, next year.”
During the meeting Cr Scomazzon said: “It’s finally starting, we’re moving forward, it’s been awhile.”
Cr Michael Rees, who moved the motion to award the contract, said it was “exciting” and described the project as a “ginormous body of work”.
“We are hoping that the new ferry will transport 30 per cent more traffic. It sounds like there will be work done on both sides simultaneously and I am very happy to hear that some of the concept drawings will be published at some point so the community can see what we are talking about and it is not just abstract,’’ he said.
