My preferred option is for nothing to change – the impacts outweigh any benefits in my opinion! – Trevor Berrill, renewables engineer and wind surfer, May 2026
We post this report on a planned boat harbour at Wellington Point. One question we have to ask ourselves is prior to the election of Amanda Stoker (LNP Member for Oodgeroo in the Queensland Parliament) what deals were done with the wealthy residents of Raby Bay. They appear to have dragged up and old proposal and provided support for Amanda Stoker to win the seat on the condition that the harbour at Wellington Point goes ahead.?
This proposal is blasphemy because the the seat of Oodgeroo is named after the famous aboriginal poet who spent her life caring for country. Cat Walker as she was then known taught me about Aboriginal customs and fishing methods with the help of dolphins.
Stoker’s seat covers much of the Redlands, including Cleveland, Wellington Point, Ormiston, Alexandra Hills, Thornlands, Victoria Point and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands. This is all Quandamooka country, always was, always will be. Please read Trevor Berrill’s report below.
–oOo–
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) is proposing a large “harbouor” upgrade to the boating facilities at Wellington Point. It is based on a 2023 BMT consultants report I have a copy of. 3 Proposals are shown at the link below. There are community info sessions listed below also.
I have written two responses in opposition to these over the top proposals.
One is very detailed (15 pages) critiquing the purported benefits and other aspects, with supporting weather and trailer parking analysis.
The second one is a shorter one (4 pages) which you can download, modify if you like, sign / date and send in by emails (see details below. Both my detailed (pdf) and shorter submission (doc file) responses are attached.
My preferred option is for nothing to change – the impacts outweigh any benefits in my opinion! But I think this unrealistic given an LNP government and local LNP representation Amanda Stoker is strongly supporting it. It’s all over her website. They also appear to be trying to rush this through before changes to the Federal Environmental Protection Act on 1 July and 1 December 2026.
Please email in a submission or fill out the MSQ survey on-line. An emailed submission is preferred as you can put in more info.
Please forward to others and attend the info sessions.
Deadline is the Sunday 31 May.
MSQ Community information session: come along for a face-to-face chat to understand the project better
Session 1: 12pm to 2pm on Tuesday 26 May 2026
Session 2: 5pm to 7pm on Wednesday 27 May 2026
Location: Level 2, Palms Atrium
Redland Sporting Club, Anson Road, Wellington Point
Have your Say: Complete the online survey yoursay-projects.tmr.qld.gov.au/wellington-point-boating-facilities-upgrade
Email: Boatinginfrastructure@msq.qld.gov.au
Phone: (07) 3632 7500 (business hours)
Thanks for your help
Trevor Berrill 0400 177 283
Impact on the Local Community and Visitors of the Proposed Wellington Point Boating Facilities Upgrade
Submission by: …………………………………………………………………………
Address:……………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Contact Details: …………………………………………………………………………
I am writing this as a local resident or visitor (circle) re the proposed upgrades to the Wellington Point boating facilities. I reject all 3 proposals as they currently are for the reasons outlined below, starting with the purported community benefits claimed by the MSQ proposal .
Sign……………………………………………… Date………………………………….
Summary of Concerns and Impacts
My concerns are as follows:
Multi-use Reserve
The Wellington Point Reserve is a multi-use reserve, unlike some other boat ramp facilities in the Redlands. Hence the non-boating community far outnumber the power boating community. This broader community includes people picnicking and relaxing, and those undertaking active, clean recreations such as wind and kite surfing, wing foiling, swimming, kayaking, running and walking. All Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) proposals result in visitors having reduced foreshore picnicking facilities, playground and green space available for recreation.
Bay Access blocked to wind and kite surfing, and wing foiling community
All three proposals block access to launch and return safely to shore in south-easterly wind directions, a very frequent wind direction. This is because these wind driven craft are restricted in the direction of travel relative to the prevailing wind direction (See figures 1 & 2). As well, the groynes produce a low wind area with increased variability some distance upwind from the groyne (See white boxed area in figure 1). Wing foilers and wind surfers also have to sail in the ‘lagoon’ that forms just east and south-east of the jetty as the tide recedes, as this provides flatter water and a safer area, with foil boards requiring deeper water to avoid the foil hitting the bottom. Hence these proposals make it less safe and much more difficult for this community to access the Bay and enjoy these fun healthy recreations.
Lack of consultation previously
The 2023 BMT report to MSQ claims that consultation was undertaken with stakeholders at the time. No such consultation was undertaken with the wind and kite surfing and wing foiling community.
Mostly benefits a small number of Power Boating Community
The proposal mostly benefits a small number of the power boating community who wish to take mostly larger boats out in winds averaging above about 10knots (20 km/hr) or more when conditions become less safe and uncomfortable for travel across the exposed waters directly off Wellington Point.
Does little to improve safety
The proposal does not increase safety for the power boating community as the greatest danger is boats overturning or being swamped in stronger wind / wave conditions. These conditions rapidly occur off Wellington Point as wind speeds increase above 10 to 15 knots with waves rising above 1.5 metres. There is little problem with safely launching at the existing boat ramps in lighter winds, particularly from half to low tide as wave action is small due to shielding from the sandbanks to the east and south-east.
Trailer Parking is already poor use of public land
The trailer parking at Wellington Point is an inefficient use of both public monies and space. Data collected over 5 months by the Redland City Council and locals showed clearly that the trailer parking spaces are under-utilized for most weekend days and public holidays, except on a few occasions each year. This is because this boat ramp puts boaties in a very wind / wave exposed area of Moreton Bay with longer travel times to sheltered waters. So most boaties prefer to use other more sheltered boat ramps unless winds are less than 10 knots.
Poor Use of Public Money
The 2023 BMT report, on which this proposal is based, estimates expenditure in the range of $3 million to $9 million. This is likely to blow out to more and is a poor use of tax payers money as it mostly benefits a small number of the power boating community. That makes it a very expense project on a per capita benefit basis.
Environmental Impacts will be significant
There will be considerable disturbance to the local environment and wildlife, including turtles, dugong, dolphins, fish as well as local and migratory birds. This includes noise and mud plumes that will impact sea grass beds nearby and fisheries. The area is inside the RAMSAR area for migratory birds and should be protected.
Local Residents will be strongly impacted
This project will take many months to construction will impact local residents greatly, including noise, diesel fumes and access. This could affect the mental and physical health of some.
Climate Change impacts are ignored
The future impacts of climate change due to sea level rise in particular are not considered as current predictions project a 0.8m sea level rise by 2100. This effectively covers this area at high tide. However, recent research suggests that most estimates are too low due to a non-linear increase in both surface air temperatures and associated sea water temperatures, and concerns with incorrect datums used in previous projections of regional sea level rise. Negative impacts are already occurring with undercutting erosion of the western side of the Point. See https://www.newscientist.com/article/2517993-sea-levels-around-the-world-are-much-higher-than-we-thought/
Conclusions and Solutions
I reject these proposals as they currently are, as they don’t accurately meet the Community Benefits claimed, and mostly benefit a very small number of the power boating community. Some alternatives are offered below for consideration.
Alternative Solution 1 (Preferred)
The size of the groyne could be reduced down to about the size and length of the existing groyne on the northern side of the jetty, and located to the southern side of the main boat ramp, with possibly a floating pontoon for easier access and beach area (See figure 1 below)
Alternative 2 (Not Preferred)
If any of the current proposals are approved, then the community of windsurfers, wing foilers and kiters are respectfully asking that they be provided with an alternative parking, rigging and launching area that provides the same level of accessibility as is currently available. This would require further consultation with this community to identify a suitable solution.
Figure 1 – Alternative 1 – Preferred Option
Figure 2 – Typical wing foiling area from Garmin watch tracking
Darker blue is the area (lagoon) used as the tide recedes in SE winds.
Wind foiling area