Boating facilities along the Hopkins River are in need of an upgrade with a former Warrnambool City Council candidate calling for better parking, more floating pontoons and fish-cleaning tables.
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Steve Moore said he wanted to see more formalised parking for anglers near Scoborio Reserve where cars and trailers can be left when using the boat ramp closest to Lyndoch Living.
Mr Moore urged the council to seek funding from Better Boating Victoria.
The issue was highlighted after the council put up 'no parking' signs on Scoborio Reserve where anglers regularly parked their vehicles and boat trailers.
Mr Moore said he had been told by the council that anglers were still allowed to park there without having to get a permit if you have a boat trailer on the back of your car.
"That's what they've said verbally," he said.
But Mr Moore said permanent signs should be erected telling boat users they were exempt from the 'no parking' ban and to clarify exactly where they can park without penalty. He said a more permanent solution for parking was also needed.
"They should apply to Better Boating Victoria to get some grant money to put in some proper parking bays," he said.
Mr Moore said the boat ramp closest to Lyndoch was popular for anglers - particularly those fishing solo - because they can tie up their boat and then go and park their vehicles.
He said the boat ramp further upstream near the rowing club was less popular because there were no floating pontoons to tie your boat to while you parked your vehicle.
"They should look at putting pontoons in there so boat users can use that as well, and down the track put a fish-cleaning table there," he said. "All the action is at the lower end of the river for boating people."
He said that during a club fishing competition there could be up to 25 boats parked along the river, and the VicBrim event that brings tourism to the town could see up to 40 teams compete.
"We don't want to be scaring those type of people away. If you start putting 'no standing' signs there they are going to think 'where are we going to park?'." he said.
"The facilities need to be more permanent without having to ask for parking permits.
"We don't want it to deter visitors from coming here.
The council said it was in discussions with boat ramp users at Lyndoch about their needs. "As a general rule, parks and reserves are not places on which it is appropriate to have everyday parking of motor vehicles," it said.
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