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The Queensland Government is committed to supporting all communities across the state, including those that experience higher cost-of-living pressures due to freight transportation challenges. This includes those persons living, working, or visiting the Outer Torres Strait Island (OTSI) region.
The OTSI supply chain is highly complex and involves substantial distances. OTSI communities depend heavily on regular sea freight deliveries for nearly all of their supplies. Air freight is not available to all locations and is typically used for transporting smaller items which are short-term time imperative.
The OTSI region is susceptible to extreme weather events and a monsoon season, and at times these seasonal conditions restrict sea freight movements. Tidal conditions also restrict sea freight movements at some locations, making service deliveries to some outer islands infrequent, yet even more critical when marine infrastructure is accessible.
With the OTSI being a dispersed island environment, marine infrastructure and infrastructure between barge ramp and store is essential to transport throughout the region. TMR is currently delivering the Torres Strait Islands Marine Infrastructure Program to improve ageing marine infrastructure in the region. Works are also being undertaken through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme to deliver road upgrades from the barge ramp to store on Saibai Island to improve freight safety and efficiency.
Please note, that as this EOI is being undertaken across the 2024 Queensland Government State Election (caretaker) period, this market engagement approach is non-binding and will not commit a future government to taking further action. Outcomes from this market engagement will be used to inform possible longer-term considerations for sustainable sea freight services to the OTSI and FNQ surrounds.
Update 4 November - Outer Torres Strait Island survey maps are now available for your information and consideration.
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