Local fishermen disappointed with project dropped as priority

THE idea of a fish cleaning station at Seventeen Seventy has been left out at sea because it would cost more than $40,000 than it was budgeted for.

Gladstone Regional Council representatives met with Agnes Water residents to discuss the installation of a fish cleaning station at a meeting at the marina on September 1.

The community, including fisherman Wayne Bonham were keen to see the project, budgeted at $25,000 go ahead.

But with an estimated cost now predicted to be $67,000, the council has taken this project off its near-future list.

 The majority of this is the $46,000 cost for the fish cleaning station to be connected to the sewerage network.

Seventeen Seventy fisherman Wayne Bonham was surprised by the estimated cost, which he described as "over-the-top" and said the council should re-evaluate with a new source for quotes.

"I will be strongly opposing the spending of $40,000 (on fish cleaning tables) when more pressing uses face our boat ramp like adequate parking and demurrage areas."

Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said the installation of a fish cleaning station on the site, near the State Emergency Service Access Rd off Captain Cook Dr, would be reconsidered in the future.

"The concept is a good one, with a four-bay stainless steel bench and water access hooked up to the sewerage network," Cr Burnett said.

The project will be considered in the council's 2017-18 budget.

The costs:

$9000 - fish cleaning station table

$4000 - labour, equipment, installation of the station (excluding sewerage network connection work)

$7000 - power and lighting

$1000 - signage

$29,000 - materials

$17,000 - equipment