Latest news with #boatramp
News.com.au
19 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Deputy Opposition Leader Dheran Young officially opens new Mandorah Marine Facilities
The new Mandorah marine facilities have officially opened, with the Northern Territory's Labor Opposition celebrating it as a 'proud day for the community'. The new ferry terminal, ferry pontoon, car park, boat trailer park and boat ramp opened to the public on Saturday, with SeaLink ferry services already operating from the new pontoon. Construction for the $85 million marine project started in May 2024 under the former Labor Government, the NT News previously reported. More than 90 per cent of subcontractors were Territory businesses, and over 400 people worked on the project, according to a statement. Deputy Opposition Leader Dheran Young said the project represented a 'significant investment' in community infrastructure that would benefit residents of Wagait Beach, Belyuen and visitors 'for years to come'. 'It was a proud day for the community, with the new facilities making travel safer, more accessible and more reliable for locals, visitors and workers,' the statement said. According to the statement, the new facilities were fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act, improving access for people with disability, parents with prams, and anyone needing mobility assistance. Two breakwater structures provided protection from sea swells, while upgrades to parking and passenger facilities improved convenience and comfort. Mr Young also thanked the project's builder, SMC Marine, for their role in delivering the new facilities. The former Mandorah Jetty will no longer be used for ferry services, with all passengers now boarding and disembarking at the new pontoon. The old jetty can still be used for fishing.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Qld mayor lists NQ home with footy, fishing, pubs at doorstep
The Mount Isa Mayor's ultimate lifestyle property with backyard boat ramp and jetty is going under the hammer, all walking distance Townsville pubs, stadium and CBD. The 1176 sqm block at 7 Fourth Ave, South Townsville, sits on the Ross River and has a six-bedroom, dual living character home, shed, fire pit and private boat ramp and jetty. Mount Isa Mayor, Peta MacRae said she and her husband bought the property a few years ago. 'We loved the idea of having our own boat ramp in the backyard and being able to put the boat in the shed at night,' she said. 'We thought one day we might move there. But it became obvious we wouldn't be leaving Mt Isa for a very long time, so we decided to sell it so someone else could enjoy it.' Big bank's surprise forecast for Aussie home prices Marketing agent Dan Ryder said interest in the home had been coming in thick and fast since he posted a teaser about the property to social media last week. 'My phone has nearly melted,' he said. 'I had the first open home last Saturday and enquiry has not lost momentum.' The Ray White Townsville agent said anyone who had seen the place had been dumbfounded – in a good way. 'It's the ultimate NQ lifestyle property,' he said. 'The first thing the building and pest inspector said to me was 'this place is f***ing awesome'.' New AFL footy boss Greg Swann selling Qld home 'It is the only property I know of within the city precinct that has its own private boat ramp and creek frontage that gives you direct access to Cleveland Bay, Magnetic Island and The Great Barrier Reef.' 'The feedback I've had so far is that it's the most unique property anyone has seen.' 'You're walking distance to the stadium and the city, you can ride a scooter to Palmer St and the Commonwealth Hotel and the South Townsville Bowls Club is at the end of the street.' 'Silly' price paid for unliveable 100-year-old cottage Ms MacRae said the property was a great fishing 'shack'. 'There's a jetty on the creek where you can sit and have a beer and a barbecue, throw your crab pots over, have a fish and catch your dinner,' she said. 'Or you can jump in the boat and go to Magnetic Island.' Ms MacRae said the house was a century-old Queenslander that began its life in Charters Towers. 'It's not pretentious and people love those heritage features it has,' she said. Artist builds Aus first aircrete dome home Set across two levels, the dual-living property has a kitchen, bathroom, living space and three bedrooms on each floor. Upstairs, there are timber floors and walls, high ceilings and decorative breezeways, while downstairs is modern. Outside, there is a 4.1m x 6.5m shed plus a paved entertaining area, undercover area, fire pit, timber jetty and boat ramp. The property at 7 Fourth Ave, South Townsville, is going to auction on Saturday, August 30 at 11am.
CBS News
04-08-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Anne Arundel County partners with marina to provide public boat ramp access to West River
Anne Arundel County leaders are partnering with a local marina to provide public boat ramp access on the West River. As WJZ reported last month, the county abruptly closed the ramp after the county council voted to terminate funding for rent and expenses at Discovery Village – the only public boat ramp within a 30-minute drive. The county announced a partnership with Parish Creek Landing Marina on Woods Warf Road in Shady Side, just across the creek from Discovery Village, allowing the public to use their boat ramp for free through October. "The county will take care of the dues, so to speak," said Julia Howes, the President and CEO of the Southern Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce. Boaters just need to check in with the office at Parish Creek Landing to get a day pass before launching. Capt. Kacie LaCovey, the general manager of Parish Creek Landing, said dozens of boaters came out to use the ramp on Saturday. "We have commercial watermen that were kind of at a loss and didn't have a way to launch and go crabbing and fishing, so we're trying to offer it and make the best of what we have here," LaCovey said. Parking is limited, and the layout of the marina requires a skilled boater to launch without hitting other vessels, whereas the Discovery Village launch has a lot more room for error. "Our biggest struggle right now is we just don't have a lot of parking, but we're trying to consolidate things and reorganize," LaCovey said. It may not be a perfect solution, but it's only temporary. "By partnering with a local marina, we can provide immediate access," said Jessica Leys, the Director of the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks. "The Department is committed to continuing the conversation and working together for a long-term solution to serve the South County residents with comprehensive water access." When the public boat ramp at Discovery Village in Shady Side suddenly closed days before the Fourth of July weekend, local fishermen like Mike Potts worried the cost of water access would drag them under. "That would end up being a pretty penny for the summertime just in boat ramp fees," Potts said. In July, council member Shannon Ledbetter said the county's lease had rising rent and allowed the property owner to bill for maintenance, spending taxpayer money without public approval. The council voted to cut funding for the rent, but the decision cut off public boat ramp access for southern Anne Arundel County. "Not everyone here is privileged enough to live in one of those waterfront communities, so there's a lot of access that is private, and we really need more of that public area to be able to get into," said Julia Howes, the President and CEO of the Southern Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce. Howes said the chamber began advocating for the local boaters. "We did recommend working with local marinas and businesses to get that temporary access going," Howes said.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Field Reports: Construction planned at Heller Bar on Snake River
Jul. 25—Construction work is coming to the Heller Bar reach of the Snake River next month, prompting a brief closure of parts of the access area. Staci Lehman, a spokesperson for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, said in an email that crews plan to remove a gravel bar in front of the launch area that impedes river traffic. The work will be done in water, which means construction crews have a limited timeframe for getting the work done. Low water helps, so they want to get it done in August. Starting around Aug. 11, an area behind the double restroom at the north end of Heller Bar will be blocked off. The restroom will still be accessible. Lehman added that from Aug. 18 to Aug. 20, the concrete boat ramp and part of the access are will be closed to give contractors room to work. Rafters will be able to use the gravel beach area south of the ramp but not the north end. Lehman said boaters and rafters might want to consider launching at Asotin Slough, Couse Creek or the Church Camp primitive launch. The work could also impact the level of traffic at launches in Idaho. More road closures in Idaho Panhandle National Forest Federal timber projects are going full steam ahead on public land in North Idaho, prompting the U.S. Forest Service to close sections of multiple roads to protect public safety. On Friday, the Idaho Panhandle National Forest closed about 3 1/2 miles of Forest Service Road 1530 for public safety during logging work for the Ridge Creek Roadside Fire Salvage Project, according to a Facebook post. The road is on the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District about 4 miles northeast of Hudlow Mountain and Hayden Lake. The closure is expected to remain in place through Aug. 22, though it could be rescinded sooner. Forest Service officials also announced that about 6 miles of Forest Service Road 422 will close from Aug. 4 to Aug. 13 while crews work to improve the road itself for the Big Mann Timber Sale. Crews will be putting in a new culvert and improving drainage on the road, which is on the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District between Forest Service Road 209 and Leiberg Saddle. Trapper education courses to be offered in North Idaho The Idaho Department of Fish and Game announced this week that it's planning a few trapper and wolf trapper education courses in the Panhandle region in the coming months. The courses are required for new trappers and are a good way for them to learn new skills before the seasons. They are scheduled as follows: Trapper education Friday — Farragut Shooting Range Center in Athol Oct. 24 — Bonner County Fairgrounds in Sandpoint Nov. 14 — Medicine Mountain Grange in Medimont Dec. 6 — Panhandle Regional Office in Coeur d'Alene Wolf trapper education Saturday — Farragut Shooting Range Center in Athol Oct. 25 — Bonner County Fairgrounds in Sandpoint Dec. 5 — Panhandle Regional Office in Coeur d'Alene Those who wish to participate can sign up online at Solve the daily Crossword
ABC News
14-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
Yorke Peninsula Council reviews $3.8m Marion Bay boat ramp over safety concerns
The Sea Rescue Squadron responsible for one of South Australia's most popular fishing spots is boycotting a new $3.8 million boat ramp, labelling it "dangerous" to sailors and vessels. Edithburgh Sea Rescue Squadron commander Brian Klingberg is among waterway users who have urged Yorke Peninsula Council to improve the safety of the new boat ramp at Marion Bay. While the council defended its consultation process, on Friday it agreed to reopen the old ramp as an temporary solution. It came after councillors voted last Wednesday to remove the new ramp's wave attenuation wall, which was supposed to reduce water movement, a change that will result in wider entry ways. The council will also look to raise the height of the central walkway between the two ramps which, according to a report presented at the meeting, "appears to be blocking the natural flow of sand and seaweed … leading to a build-up". The report also said $303,000 was left in the budget, but a quote was still being sought for further works. It remains unclear how much more money will be spent to improve the new design. Construction on the new ramp finished in April, two years after the state government chipped in $3.04 million of the total cost. However, Recreational Fishing SA executive officer Asher Dezsery said he was aware of at least six fishers who damaged their vessels within a fortnight of opening. Mr Dezsery said the biggest problem was posed by the pylons on either side of the walkway, which formed part of the "wave attenuation wall", but created a collision hazard in rough weather. The project includes two ramps either side of a walkway, one measuring four metres wide and the other six metres wide. "You don't have any movement or forgiveness as such, because you've got those poles and the pontoon itself," he said. "When you've got a really big boat, and some of these boats are worth $500,000 or $600,000, you've got nowhere to go. He added that RecFish SA was not approached for its opinion about the final design. Mr Klingberg, a Sea Rescue member of more than 20 years, described it as a "crushing hazard". "Not being an engineer, I think what they should have done is involve the locals down there," he said. "There are plenty of people who have used those facilities for 30, 40 years, and they're the ones who should have been consulted. "We didn't know anything about the design until it was all there." A Yorke Peninsula Council spokesperson said between August and September 2022, "more than 200 individuals who had previously corresponded with council about the ramp were contacted directly". "A media release was also issued via the council's website and promoted through Facebook, reaching more than 27,000 people and resulting in over 650 visits to the project webpage," the spokesperson said. "Council received 39 formal submissions. Of these, 56 per cent supported the concept design, 26 per cent opposed it, and 18 per cent provided neutral or mixed feedback. According to the council's website, two years' worth of coastal modelling data was also obtained before construction commenced. Marion Bay Rentals owner Brett Davies was pleased the old ramp had been reopened, given the algae bloom was already hurting business. "We've had a number of guests that have been coming down for 10 years, and I've had three of them state that they won't come back because of the ramp," Mr Davies said. "I've had quite a few phone calls where guests are asking me if the boat ramp is safe to launch and my answer is, 'If you're launching by yourself, it's going to be a challenge'. "We're 60 per cent down [in bookings] from the same period last year, and I'm not saying that's all because of the ramp, but going forward, I think time will tell, and I think it will have a huge impact if people think they're going to damage their boats." The ABC also contacted SA Police asking if water rescue officers had voiced safety concerns, but a spokesperson declined to comment.
