I READ with interest your article on the new Mahers Landing Boat Ramp, ‘Game changer for boaties at new Mahers Landing Ramp’, in last week’s Sentinel-Times.
Much lauded, this upgrade, which according to the large project board attached to the fence at the site for the duration of the build, was supposed to cost $4.3 million and be completed early in 2024.
A further article on page 15 of the same edition, headed “last gasp for Inverloch boat ramp”, quotes the final cost of the Mahers Landing project at $5.8 million. This equates to a 34.88 per cent blow-out in the contracted price.
Further, given the project commenced on October 1, 2023, and at this stage, is still incomplete in view of the additional work still being undertaken, it appears to have run at least 30 per cent over the scheduled time frame.
At no point has there been any explanation for the massive blow-out in both the contracted time and cost. One could hardly blame the weather, as Inverloch is renowned for its wind and so far, we have had 185mls less than at this time last year.
With regard to the upgrade of the Inverloch boat ramp, the first article on page 15, quotes the upgrade costing $1 million, whereas the second article refers to the closure of the current boat ramp to allow for the $2 million upgrade!
All this, and the designers couldn’t even include floating pontoons on either jetty, that rise and fall with the tide and allow boaters and fisherfolk, a dry platform to embark on.
In view of the above scenario, if I were a boater, I wouldn’t be holding my breath that the upgraded Inverloch boat ramp will be open for action by Christmas, as projected. The mind boggles!
David Vance, Inverloch
Editor: According to the Engage Bass Coast website, the cost of constructing a new jetty at the existing boat ramp in Inverloch, plus reinstatement of the existing rock wall “is in the order of $2 million”. Of the $1m and $2m figures included in the Sentinel-Times, the $1m figure was a typo. In relation to the total cost of the Mahers Landing boat ramp, trailer carpark and associated works, the Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos issued a media statement on September 30, quoting a project cost of $5.45m whereas the Engage Bass Coast website quotes $5.8m. At least some of the increased cost of the Mahers Landing project could be attributed to changes made to the design and delays in reaching an agreement on the funding arrangements.
