Locals harbour doubt on ramp

Kim Waters
Portarlington residents have labelled a Point Richards boat ramp redevelopment as “dangerous”.
Foreshore manager Bellarine Bayside began the final phase of the project this week, including work on a new boat ramp.
Portarlington Sailing Club’s Bob Kennet said the designs were “confusing” and seemed unsafe.
He was worried the new ramp design failed to protect users from rough seas in north-west winds.
“I wondered why they hadn’t angled the ramp a different way – it seems unsafe.”
Friends of the Bellarine Hills president Des Badrock described the project as a “publicity stunt” for the committee, which has battled a series of recent criticisms.
Mr Badrock said 1600 residents and holidaymakers had signed a petition calling on State Government to dissolve the committee.
Mr Badrock blamed a recent outbreak of graffiti targeting Bellarine Bayside on tourists dissatisfied with foreshore management and town facilities.
“I think some tourists have just let themselves get out of control because they’re running into the same problems every single time they visit.”
Bellarine Bayside chief executive officer Tim Page-Walker slammed graffiti vandals for “a complete waste of time and community resources”.
He defended the boat ramp designs as a consequence of their designers having to work with an “unsafe harbour” environment.
“Over the past three years some of the country’s best coastal engineers have developed the boat ramp,” Mr Page-Walker said.
“It isn’t a safe harbor and people need to understand that the boat ramp will be subject to wind and weather.”