Tweed Shire Council has officially opened the upgraded boat launching facilities at Dry Dock Road, Tweed Heads South designed to accommodate a wide range of watercraft and improve accessibility for users.
Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry and John Stead, President of Sailability Tweed cut the ribbon on the new boat ramp at Dry Dock Road in Tweed Heads.
A key feature of the enhancements is a new hand-launching ramp, planned specifically to meet the needs of Sailability, a volunteer organisation that uses the site each week to provide sailing opportunities for people of all abilities.
Council’s Coast and Waterways Team Leader Tom Alletson said he was pleased to see the works finished and being used and appreciated by a range of community members.
“Dry Dock is a very busy boat ramp so it was crucial to us to make it the best facility we could – for both residents and visitors,” he said.
“Council seeks to increase the accessibility of the Tweed’s amazing waterways so it was particularly important that we support an organisation like Sailability, and we’re grateful that the federal government funding allowed us to do that.”
John Stead, President of Sailability in Tweed said that the new facility was making a real difference to how they operate.
“Having a pontoon and boat ramp in front of our operating area makes it easier for us to safely handle our participants into the sailing boats.
“Sailing has huge benefits for participants, many carers comment on their clients being very different after a day sailing,” he said.
“The new pontoon and boat ramp is a win-win for all the community, providing the opportunity for people with small craft, canoes and paddle boards to safely access the waterway away from the power boats,” Mr Stead said.
Community consultation informed the upgrades to the Dry Dock Road boat ramp which included:
- Installation of a new floating pontoon
- Removal of the old timber jetty
- Installation of a new hand-launch facility for paddle craft and other small vessels
- Installation of a new and improved fish cleaning table
- Boat ramp maintenance
- Foreshore erosion protection
- Partial carpark resurfacing and line marking
- Footpath and landscaping improvements.
The project was funded through a $860,000 grant from the Australian Government as part of its Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program. This initiative aims to boost the wellbeing of communities in regional areas by providing new or upgraded social infrastructure.
