THERE could hardly have been a better day for getting your boat out, for the first time in months, than last Saturday and from early morning the ramps across the region, from Cowes to Port Welshpool, were positively groaning with boat owners.

For the Inverloch Boat Ramp, it was something of a last gasp before the facility is closed ahead of a $2 million upgrade to the jetty and reinstatement of the existing rock revetment.

According to the Bass Coast Shire Council, the project is expected to be completed by December 20 but they’re a week late getting started so completion by Christmas will be the aim.

But boaties don’t be deterred, the flash new boat ramp at nearby Mahers Landing officially opened on Monday, September 30 – out with the old and in with the new!

Both projects, $2 million for the new jetty at Inverloch and $5.8 million for the new boat ramp facility at Mahers Landing, are all being provided out of the State Government’s Better Boating Fund, coming from licence and registration fees paid by boaters.

Posting on social media at the weekend, Bass MP acknowledged the chatter around the two projects, the timing, overlap, access, boat rescue and completions.

“The upshot is one opens before the other closes which has always been the plan – maintaining access for our emergency services and boaters,” Ms Crugnale said.

There’s some confusion about whether or not the Inverloch Boat Ramp will stay open for the school holidays but if it is closed, you’re not far away from Mahers Landing.