Warrnambool City Council to award tender for new boat ramp in February

Mayor Richard Ziegeler said the council was in the process of finding a suitable company to replace the boat ramp, which has been labelled the worst in the state.

"Our council engineers have taken the boat ramp design to the market and we anticipate being in a position to award the tender for construction of the new boat ramp at the February 2022 meeting of council," Cr Ziegeler said.

"It is a significant project and we acknowledge the Victorian government support for this, which included a $3.5 million grant."

A safer port for Warrnambool is a priority in the council's advocacy plan for the next four years.

Cr Ziegeler said dredging of the bay was a priority. He said the council would seek $850,000 for the initial dredging works and a further $2.4 million over 10 years for maintenance dredging.

"We're very pleased to see three is money available for dredging and we'll be speaking to the Victorian government about accessing some of that allocation," Cr Ziegeler said.

Funds are available as part of the Victorian Regional Boating Strategy 2021-2030, which was released this week. "We have a dredging tender package ready to go once funding is confirmed," Cr Ziegeler said. He said the council would also seek funds for the city's breakwater. "The ramp, the breakwater and dredging are all pieces of the same puzzle," Cr Ziegeler said. He said a complementary dredging program was needed to ensure the best outcome for the new boat ramp. "The ramp is also protected by the breakwater so we need that piece of infrastructure to endure for another century," Cr Ziegeler said.

"That will require major repair, including the addition of rock armoury on the south face and eastern end of the breakwater."

Cr Ziegeler said the breakwater repairs would require considerable investment, with the advocacy plan stating the council would seek $8 million for construction of the rock armouring and a further $140,000 to repair the upper walkway.

"We understand that the breakwater repair will require a considerable investment by the Victorian government and that will take place after the ramp upgrade and dredging are finalised."

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