Boat ramp safety concerns raised in parliament
Nationals MP Melina Bath wants better ladder access and lighting at the upgraded Lang Lang ramp before the summer boating season.
SAFETY and operational concerns about the upgraded Lang Lang boat ramp and jetty have been raised in state parliament on behalf of local boaters.
Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath has called on the State Government to fix the issues before the snapper season and the busy summer period.
“Lang Lang is a great boating destination but safety concerns around the new jetty need to be fixed before the busy season begins,” Ms Bath said.
“Local boaters have raised genuine concerns about the safety and access on the jetty and the government needs to address these.”
Ms Bath said the upgrade had been promoted as able to handle up to five boats launching or retrieving at once.
“The Lang Lang jetty upgrade has been promoted by the Labor Government as a facility capable of supporting up to five boats launching or retrieving simultaneously, but its design does not support this,” she said.
“The upgrades have not delivered all operational features boaters should expect from a modern boating facility.
“Ramp users claim inadequate ladder access and poor lighting at the ramp undermines usability and safety given it can only be used around the high tide.”
She said growing demand from boaters and land-based anglers reinforced the need for practical improvements.
“Having access restricted to only the jetty’s head will create congestion,” Ms Bath said.
“There’s real potential for unsafe vessel movements, as well as slips and falls.
“Lighting at Lang Lang is insufficient; boaters require adequate lighting to launch and retrieve vessels at dawn, dusk or after dark.”
The $1.8 million upgrade, funded through recreational boaters’ licence and registration fees, was completed earlier this year by the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Better Boating Victoria, working with DEECA and the Lang Lang Foreshore Reserve Committee.
Better Boating Victoria says the new jetty has room for up to five vessels to be tied up, and that the old ramp was kept for non-powered vessels to reduce congestion at busy times.
It also says the shallow water and flat seabed around Lang Lang mean the new ramp will mainly be used at mid to high tides.
“We want Lang Lang to be the safe, practical and fit-for-purpose jetty that everyone who wants to use it can do so safely,” Ms Bath said.
“Western Port is one of Victoria’s premier boating and fishing destinations and facilities should reflect that.”
