Step forward for the O’Sullivan Beach boat ramp upgrade
Onkaparinga Council has agreed to contribute $35,000 toward upgrading the ageing O’Sullivan Beach boat ramp. Now, the State Government is being called on to kick in the rest. Problem is, it’s quite a lot of money ...
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Onkaparinga Council has voted to contribute $35,000 toward an upgrade of the ageing O’Sullivan Beach boat ramp.
At its meeting this week, the council decided it would provide funds toward extending the launching section.
According to the council, the $35,000 would enable access roads, car and trailer parking and washdown bays to be modified so the ramp could be extended.
It said it was “reasonable” for the council to cover these costs as it related to its own property.
However, Onkaparinga argued that the ramp and pontoons were state-owned and therefore the majority of the work should be funded by the State Government.
The cost of the entire project has been estimated at $833,000.
The council’s decision to support the project was spurred by a 500-signature community petition calling for the ramp to be upgraded.
Mark Mills, of Lonsdale’s Fishing Wholesalers, launched the petition – which was then submitted to state parliament late last year by the Labor MP for Reynell, Katrine Hildyard.
Ms Hildyard also led a deputation to Onkaparinga councillors at their December meeting.
She welcomed the council’s decision to contribute to the project and called on the State Government to fund the rest of the work.
“The extended wait times caused by the facility’s poor state is causing frustration, aggression, a lack of safety and turning visitors away from our area,” she said.
“The Government must act now for the benefit of all users and our community.”
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Mr Mills, who also founded the annual Onka Stompa fishing competition, told The Messenger last year that another pontoon needed to be built and the area between the washdown bays widened to prevent congestion.
He said people often had to line up for 20 minutes to launch their boat and then, on return, were stuck in the water waiting to use the ramp.
This created a safety hazard because it also delayed Coast Guard and Sea Rescue boats.
“During the busy time in summer the boat ramp becomes congested and it becomes a bottleneck,” Mr Mills said.
The Transport Department has been contacted for comment.