Boat ramp upgrade recommended

Gosford Council officers have recommended approval for the upgrade of the Pretty Beach boat ramp.

Council received a request from the Pretty Beach, Wagstaffe and the District Progress Association to upgrade the boat ramp.

The Association obtained a grant through the Waterways Asset Development and Management Program (WADAMP) of $100,000 for each of the last two years.

Council has already begun preparing design specifications for the ramp and pontoon, and final plans for the upgrade have been prepared in consultation with the community and approved by NSW Maritime.

An additional request has also been made for any fees associated with the lodgement of the development application to be waived.

The issue was originally raised on November 23 last year when Cr Jim Macfadyen asked if there were any problems with the design of the Pretty Beach boat ramp.

Cr Macfadyen requested that council's civil engineers investigate the design before tenders were called to carry out the work.

Cr Macfadyen also requested that a community consultation meeting be convened to give an update on the plan, given the project had begun in March last year.

Director of community services Mr Phil Rowland replied that the Pretty Beach boat ramp had a number of hurdles including beds of a protected species of sea grass.

He stated that a flat slope on the sea bed would also make it difficult to provide enough draft at low tide.

Mr Rowland said that the community's "rigid expectation of the outcome was inconsistent with the advice given to council by its consultant engineers".

He commented that, given that threatened species were involved and the ramp did not comply with the Brisbane Water Plan of Management, there were substantial delays through the development application process.

Council agenda Q.123, February 22 Council agenda CS.9, February 22