Ramping down: Ocean Grove boat facility waits on fix from city

THE City of Greater Geelong says it will proceed with long-awaited repairs at the launching facility at the Ocean Grove boat ramp after queries from local fishers as well as state and federal MPs.

The city removed the southern mooring pontoon in 2019 to replace it, and a recent storm damaged the northern pontoon, forcing its closure and leaving the ramp without any functional pontoons.

Through Better Boating Victoria, the state government has provided $48,000 to the city to design the southern pontoon and a further $250,000 to build it.

Although the works were expected to be completed by the end of September, this was not done.

Users of the ramp, including the Ocean Grove Angling Club and Coast Watch Ocean Grove, then reached out to Bellarine MP Lisa Neville and Corangamite federal member Libby Coker for assistance.

Ms Neville said the city was provided $20,000 of the funding allocation for the pontoon works in February, when the agreed completion date was May of this year, but then sought an extra $28,000, which was provided in June with an agreed completion date of September 30.

“I have been awaiting the council to progress this as a matter of urgency as not only are we in the peak boating season, Coast Watch Ocean Grove as marine search and rescue operations are jeopardised with the current state of the facility,” Ms Neville said.

“This will potentially risk lives for people on the water.”

According to an email sent by the city’s department of Environment and Waste Services, the city will install temporary pontoons at the Ocean Grove boat ramp “prior to the Christmas period”.

“This will provide a safe and functional boat ramp that will be in operation over the Christmas period/New Year period,” the email states.

“We will be installing permanent pontoons in 2022 and progress towards this is well under way with the final design drawings and specifications for the permanent pontons received from the consultant … we will shortly provide public notice regarding the interim temporary arrangements and subsequent replacement and/or refurbishment of pontoons at the Ocean Grove ramp.”

Ms Coker organised a public meeting at the boat ramp last week.

“Unless this is fixed soon, the Ocean Grove facility is at risk of closure over the busy Christmas period,” she said.

“Fishers would have to all go across the river to the Barwon Heads boat launching facility, which has very limited parking.”