Burdekin Residents Call For Action As Barratta

By Chelsea Ravizza

Residents of the Burdekin Shire have recently spotlighted several safety concerns surrounding the current state of the Barratta Creek boat ramp, with many calling for urgent action and emergency dredging.

Barratta Creek has silted up heavily over time, and with each natural disaster or dramatic weather event, shifting sandbars have caused accessibility issues for boaters, who report instances of grounding or propeller damage due to the creek’s reduced depth.

“The boat ramp here (Barratta Creek) was an all-tide accessibility ramp before the rain earlier this year, even at the lowest of tides,” explained Jonathan (Jon) Szendrey of North Queensland Fishing Adventures.

In late 2024 and into early 2025, intense monsoonal rains and tropical-low activity left the region submerged in one of Northeast Queensland’s most dramatic flooding events in recent years. The Burdekin River and adjacent waterways, including Barratta Creek, experienced severe volumes of fast-moving water, which shifted an existing sandbar approximately 50 metres south of the boat ramp directly towards the landing.

“Just after all of the rain, we needed about 0.8 metres in the tide to launch and retrieve boats, but it has slowly become worse during the year, and we now need about 1.2 metres in the tide to get boats in, and out,” added Jon.

Locals also believe that overgrown inland vegetation altered historic rain runoff, diverting water from Barratta Creek into Barramundi Creek (Morrisies) via the Jerona Road causeway, contributing to the ongoing silting problem.

Although the community has previously undertaken small-scale efforts using high-pressure hoses and tractors to clear the area, these initiatives are now impossible due to the significant build-up at the base of the ramp.

“20 to 30 years ago, most people wouldn’t have a problem with pushing their boat through shallow water over sandbars here, but with the number of crocs we are seeing these days near the boat ramp, it’s not a good idea to be walking in the water now,” Jon said.

“The build up around the ramp has become so bad that you can’t even push your boat within 50 metres of the ramp on a tide below a metre.”

Council has confirmed that the proposed dredging requires state government approval. The matter was referred to the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) in October 2025, and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines recently confirmed no objection to the works under the Coastal Protection and Management Act.

Burdekin Shire Council is currently seeking quotes for specialised equipment to undertake the dredging and plans to commence works early next year, noting that timing must align with the lowest astronomical tides. Council has maintained regular communication with concerned residents and emphasised that the project is aimed at improving accessibility and safety for the wider boating and fishing community.

The Barratta Creek boat ramp as it was on the 8th of November at a low tide of 0.64meters – three days earlier the low tide was 0.29meters. Photo suppled
A boat grounded at the boat ramp in August of 2025. Photo supplied
The state of the Barratta Creek boat ramp in July of 2025. Photo supplied
The boat ramp’s condition as it was in April of 2025. Photo supplied

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