EUROBODALLA Shire Council will soon start work on upgrading the Apex Park boat ramp in North Narooma to improve the way that people with different levels of skills can berth, load and unload their boats at the ramp.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Apex Park Boat Ramp in North Narooma will be closed from early May to the end of June while the first stage of the works take place, which include the widening of the ramp and refurbishment of the existing jetty.
Tenders for second stage, the installation of a 24-metre-long central pontoon are being considered now and this next stage which will also require the ramp to be closed, with all works expected to be finished before the October school holidays.
Alternative boat ramp facilities during the closures are available at Mill Bay Boat ramp and at Forsters Bay in Narooma.
Some Narooma anglers and the Narooma Port Committee have been frustrated by delays due to concerns over seagrass protection and are also critical of the proposed design.
However, council says the improvements are expected to be a welcome addition for local boating enthusiasts and an added attraction for visitors looking for a better way to enjoy the unique water and nature based experiences around Narooma and Montague Island.
Eurobodalla mayor Lindsay Brown said that the $350,000 upgrade would be a boost to Narooma’s reputation as a fishing, diving and whale watching destination and be an added way to attract visitors all year round.
The works include replacement and widening of the existing boat ramp, provision of a new central floating pontoon, refurbishment of the existing timber jetty and minor improvements to access areas.
“The local boating community have helped us plan the upgrade and their input will make sure we have a facility that is suitable for a wide range of boating experience,” Clr Brown said.
Councillor Neil Burnside also met with local boat owners and thanked them for being part of the project.
“With their advice, the plans now also include retaining and refurbishing the existing fixed timber jetty and pontoon, and I thank them all for being part of this project,” Clr Burnside said.
The project is being funded with a contribution of $100,000 from council, and an additional $250,000 from partnering with the NSW Government’s Better Boating program.
“Partnership opportunities like these offer a great outcome for ratepayers and in particular, businesses in Narooma who rely on the tourism dollar,” Clr Burnside said.
Port committee critical of Apex ramp design
The Narooma Port Committee and its chairman Phillip Creagh are critical of the proposed design of the Apex Park boat ramp.
Council engineers have told him the pontoon wharf will be designed and certified by a structural engineer in accordance with current applicable Australian Standards, and for existing tidal flows and 1 in 100 year storm events likely to be experienced at this site.
But Mr Creagh said it was his understanding that no current flow studies had been done at the Apex Park ramp site between February 2013 and February 2015.
He said he wanted appropriate facts and figures before making a submission to State Member Andrew Constance.
His said preferred solution for the boating groups involved a two-section (12m) pontoon wharf extending from the eastern side of the ramp, with an approximate 90 degree angle and two or three pontoons extending to the current fishing pontoon which is due to be replaced.
“This is an elegant solution as we believe the impact on the sea grass is less than that of council’s preferred solution and design process would be easier,” he said,
“We are quite prepared to vigorously argue the sea grass case with NSW Fisheries and Batemans Marine Park.
“Surely a re-design process would be a bit like re-organizing deck chairs, rather than designing the Sydney Harbour Bridge again!”
