Fishers call for upgrade to the O’Sullivan Beach boat ramp to stop ‘ramp rage’

Fishers are calling for upgrades to the O’Sullivan Beach boat ramp to ease congestion and “ramp rage”.

The O'Sullivan Beach boat ramp.

• Study shows snapper numbers have gone down by 90 per cent
• The Adelaide kiosk with a view worth fighting for
• Three people rescued from liferaft after boat sinks near Kingston SE

Boaties want the ageing O’Sullivan Beach boat ramp upgraded to cope with an increase in demand and stamp out “ramp rage”.

The push stems from overcrowding at the main ramp, which was built in 1983.

Fishing Wholesalers owner Mark Mills, who also founded the annual Onka Stompa fishing competition, says O’Sullivan Beach is a “forgotten stretch” of coast.

“Boats should be able to launch and retrieve quickly to keep things moving,” Mr Mills said.

“The population growth in the area since 1983 has been huge, but the boating facilities haven’t grown with it.”

The boaties are calling on Onkaparinga Council and the State Government to work together to resolve the issue.

Mr Mills said another pontoon and launching lane was needed to ease congestion, particularly in the warmer months when it can take up to 20 minutes to launch or retrieve a single boat.

“The congestion is causing boaties to get frustrated and increasing the number of ramp rage incidents,” he said.

O’Sullivan Beach kiosk owner Rob McKay agreed that an upgrade was desperately needed.

A new pontoon would be especially valuable as a moorage for Sea Rescue and lifesavers, he said.

“And boat owners would be able to tie-up at the pontoon while they walked to their cars without clogging the ramp,” he said.

Reynella state Labor MP Katrine Hildyard has condemned the ramp as unsafe and said she had been contacted by boaties who were frustrated by inaction.

She had written to Infrastructure Minister Stephen Knoll about their concerns.

“Minister Knoll and the council need to listen to our community and upgrade our ramp and surrounding area,” Ms Hildyard said.

A public meeting will be held at the ramp this Sunday (June 23), 3.30pm-5pm.