A NEW dual-lane boat ramp is now open at Mahers Landing near Inverloch, improving boating access to Anderson Inlet thanks the licence and registration fees paid by boat owners, reinvested into facilities by Better Boating Victoria (BBV) and the State Government.
And apparently you do get a lot for the $5.45 million price tag.
The Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Steve Dimopoulos, announced the opening of the new ramp and jetty on Monday this week, where there’s space for up to eight boats to be tied up and nearby car parking with 55 spaces big enough for a car and trailer.
“This ramp upgrade at Mahers Landing has transformed the area and will provide boaters with better access to a day out on Anderson Inlet,” said Minister Dimopoulos.
“We’re making it easier for people and families to get out on the water for fishing, water fun or just a great day in nature with family and friends.”
The new concrete ramp is elevated two metres above the beach, which means boats can launch into deeper water. Previously the single-lane boat ramp only allowed high-tide access into Anderson Inlet for small boats.
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale kept boaties informed ahead of the holiday weekend, saying Inverloch’s boat ramp would remain open until the Mahers Landing facility was operational, and that’s what happened.
“The upgrades at Mahers Landing will provide all tide access to our much-loved Anderson Inlet and be another launching option for boaters, fishers and other water users,” Ms Crugnale said.
Inverloch’s boat ramp will remain closed until Christmas while a new jetty is constructed, making it safer for boat owners to retrieve their vessels. The $1 million project also includes reinstatement of the existing rock wall.
The $5.45 million Mahers Landing project includes guard rails, a centre lane divider to make reversing easier and safer, rubber fenders on the jetty to protect boats, and solar lighting so boaters can launch before dawn or after dark.
All new car parking spaces are asphalted, and the old boat ramp has been retained for smaller boat use, high-tide launching and kayak access – all popular activities in the area.
There’s also a new, 24-hour toilet block providing a stopping off point for travellers as well as boat owners.
With work at Mahers Landing now complete, attention will turn to nearby Inverloch where a second jetty will be built to provide more protection from tidal flow. Meanwhile the existing jetty will remain open for land-based fishing, a popular holiday pastime as demonstrated this week.
