Boat-ramp car park ready to launch

Holiday makers and locals can enjoy upgraded car-park facilities at the South Durras boat ramp this Easter.

Eurobodalla Council’s infrastructure works manager Tony Swallow said there were 19 parking spaces available, including nine catering for boat trailers.

“To improve drainage and prevent possible erosion caused by informal parking, we’ve surfaced the car park, with kerb and gutter added where appropriate,” Mr Swallow said.

“This will reduce sediment washing into Durras Lake.”

The recent work concludes a major upgrade of the boat ramp and surrounds, and was partly funded with a grant from the NSW Government’s Boating Now program. Mr Swallow said advocacy by the Durras Community Association had helped Council land the funding.

“The boat ramp was upgraded in 2017. Now we’ve extended its length and height to tie-in with the raised level of the car park. Both will remain accessible when the lake closes to the ocean and the water level rises,” Mr Swallow said.

“We’ve also added a new pathway to connect facilities and separate pedestrians from vehicles; people like to wander down to this beaut spot by the lake. The pathways will be complete before the Easter-holiday break.”

Council’s facilities manager Chris Tague said the toilets for the South Durras car park were finished last December.

“There were sensitive environmental concerns around the site,” Mr Tague said.

“We’ve constructed the toilet block entirely off-grid from power, water and sewer services, with water for the hand basins delivered by solar pump from tanks at the rear.

“We’ve had good feedback. People seem to like the planet-friendly approach.”