On a warm weekend morning, families queue at the Scarborough Boat Harbour ramps, trailers lined along the road while children trail behind with fishing rods. It’s a familiar scene on the Redcliffe Peninsula, where locals and visitors come to launch into Moreton Bay. But with pressure on facilities mounting, the master plan for the harbour is promising upgrades that could reshape this daily ritual.

A Harbour Under Pressure

Scarborough Boat Harbour has always been more than its pontoons and ramps. It’s a place where people stroll the foreshore, share fish and chips, and head out for a day on the water. Yet as boat numbers increased and infrastructure aged, space became harder to share. 

By 2022, planners began drafting a vision to prepare the harbour for the future, extending consultations into 2024 to ensure the community could have its say.

The Voices Around the Harbour

Local voices shaped much of the debate. Some residents feared that foreshore cafés and retail spaces could push aside green areas and change the neighbourhood’s character. Others raised practical concerns, such as calling for storm-water fixes to stop tidal flooding through streets near the harbour.

A 2024 e-petition argued that the draft plan failed to reflect community values, urging stronger protection for open space. The Scarborough Harbour Advisory Group later “generally welcomed” the final version but said more work was needed, especially to curb hooning and safeguard foreshore parkland.

Plans for the Harbour

By September 2024, proposals included expanded pontoons, upgraded ramps and improved parking. The plan also identified opportunities for hospitality and tourism-related activity in designated precincts, while reserving large areas for public open space and recreation.

Industry groups also had a say. The Boating Industry Association supported planning that kept Scarborough a working harbour, highlighting the need for facilities that serve both commercial operators and recreational boaters.

First Steps and Next Moves

Before the final master plan was published, funding for smaller upgrades was released in May 2024, bringing safety improvements and minor works to existing facilities.

In July 2025, Scarborough was included in a state-wide program to accelerate harbour master planning, with $3.9 million allocated for immediate upgrades focused on safety, access and amenities.

For now, Scarborough sits at the crossroads of progress and preservation. Families still wait in line at the ramps, fishers still ready their boats, and residents still watch closely to see if the harbour’s next chapter will hold true to the character of their community.

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