NEWS

Swan Bay Boat Ramp back in business  

4 February 2010

Swan Bay Boat Ramp has been reopened following the completion of works in January. Parks Victoria’s Chief Ranger, Port Philip and Western Port Graeme Davis, says the former gravel boat ramp has been replaced with a formed concrete structure approximately 15 metres long. The new boat ramp has also been realigned towards the jetty to access slightly deeper water than could be reached from the previous alignment.

Mr Davis says the upgrade to the ramp is aimed at improving safety for users and will continue to provide launching capacity for small boats under similar tidal conditions as currently exists. Mr Davis reinforced that the larger vessels will need to continue to use boat launching facilities at Queenscliff or St Leonards, as they have always done. “The new ramp is not designed for launching large boats as the shallow grade of the seabed and foreshore makes it unsuitable,” said Mr Davis.

Mr Davis advised that there may be a further but short term closure of the ramp to lay a section of concrete matting to protect the sea bed against scouring, “We appreciate the patience of boat ramp users while we complete these works which will improve the safety of the ramp” said Mr Davis.

The works were substantially funded by an $84,029 grant from the Victorian Government’s Boating Safety and Facilities Program managed by Marine Safety Victoria.

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