Ansett ramps up action on Avalon

A councillor has vowed to excavate a sand build-up preventing fishermen from using Avalon boat ramp at low tide.
Cr Tony Ansett said maintenance had “dropped off” at the pier since an upgrade about five years ago.
“It’s no good having a flash jetty if you can’t take off in your boat. There’s nothing worse than hitting your propeller or something because it’s expensive to repair boats.”
Cr Ansett said he would arrange for a backhoe to dig out some of the sand then consider pushing to have the area dredged.
Cr Ansett’s comments followed a call from the Independent after fisherman Allan Marshall complained the build-up was inconveniencing boat-owners.
“Everybody’s happy with the two double ramps and the fish cleaning table but I speak to a lot of fishermen down there and everybody agrees we need to dredge a basin around the ramp,” Mr Marshall said.
“All we want is a sort of basin so when you launch your boat at low tide the propeller isn’t going to dig into the bottom.”
Mr Marshall said tides dictated when fishermen could use the ramp.
“Those that understand the tides play a waiting game. They go out halfway through a tide change.
“Some people go to other ramps because of the low waters.”