Saibai Island residents in the Torres Strait will be better protected from storm surges and high tides after the completion of the Saibai Island Seawalls, part of the Torres Strait Seawalls project, the Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, said in its latest release.
The Torres Strait community yesterday celebrated the official opening of the $24.5 million Saibai project, which will help protect homes and critical infrastructure such as the school and airstrip.
A commemorative plaque was unveiled by Mr Entsch, the Queensland Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Mark Furner, the Torres Strait Regional Authority Chairperson Mr Napau Pedro Stephen, the Mayor of Torres Strait Island Regional Council Cr Fred Gela, Saibai Elder Mebai Warusam and Cr Keri Akiba.
The federal Coalition Government contributed $14.2 million towards the project, with the Queensland Government contributing $12 million.
The Saibai Island Seawalls are more than 2.28 kilometers long and include more than 1.8 kilometers of curved wave return wall which deflects the waves back into the water. A further two kilometers of bund wall protects the health of the community with improved drainage.