Safety, fishing and tourism key priorities as upgrades to Cooktown Wharf area commence

Cook Shire Council commenced highly anticipated upgrade works to the area connecting the Cooktown Wharf, boat ramp and waterfront this week as part of Stage 5 of the Revitalisation of Charlotte Street project. 

Proudly funded by the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery Program and the Queensland Government’s Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS), the upgrade will enhance safety, accessibility and functionality of the area, while providing improved facilities for commercial and recreational fishing and boating. Once complete, the revitalised area will also provide significant benefits to the community, local businesses and visiting tourists.

"The Cooktown Wharf is an important asset for our community and the wider region. The upgrade works will boost tourism potential by creating a welcoming entry to our town and improved access for visiting boats and cruise ships, while also making the area safer and more functional for recreational and commercial fishing,” said Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott.

“Consultation and planning for the project commenced in 2016, and we’ve worked with community and stakeholders to get the best possible outcomes for the area,” said Mayor Scott. “It’s been a very detailed collaborative process and we are very proud of the work that’s gone into it.” 

The works include construction of kerb and channels, shared pathways, ramps, traffic islands, new bitumen, creation of more car parks and dedicated boat and trailer parking bays, safety guardrails, commercial operations areas, and overall landscaping and beautification works.

To minimise disruptions to residents and local businesses, the upgrade works will be delivered in two stages, with the upper half of the road adjacent to the Seaview Hotel being upgraded in the first stage, while the lower half will be completed in the second stage.

Traffic management and control plans will be in place, including diversions and road closures, and access to the construction site area will be limited and restricted.

“We understand and acknowledge that the construction period falls over this year’s busy tourism season, however the timing of this project is governed by resource and funding constraints. Council’s team will be working with local businesses to ensure any impacts of construction are minimised,” added Mayor Scott. 

Works are anticipated to be completed by mid-2024.

For more information contact Cook Shire Council via email to mail@cook.qld.gov.au or by phoning 4082 0500.

Pictured left to right below: Kevin Sadleir, Site Manager, G&M Civil and Council's Mark Whitman, Road Construction Foreman, and Khubaib Khan, Manager Engineering. at this morning's onsite pre-start work meeting.