Ramp an Eagle Point Christmas gift

A new boat launching facility will be built by East Gippsland Shire Council to replace the current ramp at Eagle Point, and is expected to be open by Christmas.

Council, on October 2 at the monthly Ordinary Meeting, accepted the tender submitted by local firm Jarvis Norwood Constructions to construct the Eagle Point Boat Launching Facility for $233,000 (excluding GST). Grant funding of $179,200 has been secured from Transport Safety Victoria via the 2017-18 round of the Boating Safety and Facilities Program. Local designers from Crossco Consulting and TiBar Services assisted with the design and engineering of the new facilities.

Mayor Cr Joe Rettino said the replacement and upgrade of the existing boating facility had been identified in the Draft Eagle Point Foreshore Management Plan.

“The design includes the decommissioning and removal of the existing concrete boat ramp, replacement with a new steeper concrete boat ramp repositioned beside the existing timber jetty, and the installation of a new floating jetty on the southern side,” Cr Rettino said.

“The new facilities will also include a beach launching area on the southern side that will be suitable of off the beach launching of stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and small non-powered craft,” Cr Rettino said.

Acting Director Operations Fiona Weigall said offsite fabrication of components will take place in November before onsite works take place from early November to just prior to Christmas.

“The existing boat ramp will be closed during onsite construction from early November to just prior to Christmas,” Ms Weigall said.

“We have several alternative boat ramps in the Eagle Point area that could be used while the existing ramp is closed during construction. These are located at Paynesville (several), Newlands Arm (Dawsons Cove) and on Rivermouth Road just north of Eagle Point,” Ms Weigall said.