A vital project to re-open the flood-ravaged Port of Bundaberg to commercial shipping will be completed within days.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said Maritime Safety Queensland staff and private contractors were on target to finish the job by next week.
“Navigation beacons have been completely rebuilt and complex navigation systems vital for guiding big ships safely into the port installed following January’s flood event,” Mr Bennett said.
“The successful completion of this project ensures Bundaberg Port will start commercial operations in time for the new sugar crushing season.
“The first bulk sugar carrier is scheduled to arrive later in June.”
Mr Bennett said the re-opening of the port was a key milestone in rebuilding the region’s economy after the January 2013 flood event.
“It also demonstrates the government’s ongoing commitment to restoring Bundaberg’s flood-damaged assets,” he said.
The contract to replace 12 navigation beacons and pylons damaged or destroyed in the floods was awarded to QPort Marine Services last month.
“This firm has an established record in assisting flood recovery efforts, including works undertaken after the Brisbane floods in 2011,” Mr Bennett said.
He said Maritime Safety Queensland had worked around the clock with the Port of Bundaberg to get ships moving through the harbour as soon as possible without compromising the safety of port operations and also praised Queensland Sugar Limited for its support during the project.
“The construction work complements extensive dredging operations recently undertaken by the dredge Brisbane,” he said.
“This included surveying the port for flood siltation depths and identifying submerged hazards before allowing the port to start dredging operations.”
The port is primarily a sugar export terminal, with more than 250,000 tonnes of sugar passing through the facility in 2011/12.