Summer surge: Boat ramps struggle with growing watercraft traffic ahead of peak season
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As the sun climbs higher and the days grow longer, Australians are flocking to the water in droves, eager to make the most of the balmy weather.
The allure of the open sea and the thrill of water sports are hard to resist, and for many, this means hitching up the boat or jet ski and heading to the nearest boat ramp.
However, with this surge in aquatic enthusiasm comes a tidal wave of frustration as boat ramps across the country struggle to keep up with the booming trend of watercraft ownership.
The scene at one Sydney boat ramp encapsulates the chaos perfectly.
On a recent weekend, the Cooks River boat ramp was swamped with a long line of 4WDs, each towing a boat or jet ski, all jostling for their turn to hit the water.
The congestion was so severe that one man, caught in the gridlock, took to social media to vent his exasperation.
‘And so it begins…if you have a boat or a family, don't bother going to [the] ramp,’ he lamented online.
‘We are not even at peak season yet, and the facilities are at capacity!’
His snapshot of the scene, with at least four vehicles queued up, was a stark illustration of the problem that seems to recur every year, and yet, according to him, little has been done by the council to alleviate the bottleneck.
‘You have no chance of launching the boat with the amount of jet skis there at the moment,’ the man added.
The frustration is palpable, and it's not just the boat owners who are feeling the squeeze. Jet ski enthusiasts are also finding themselves in choppy waters as the popularity of these personal watercraft continues to soar.
In fact, jet ski sales hit a record high in 2022, with nearly 10,000 units sold across Australia, as reported by Watercraft Zone.
Despite a dip in sales last year, the market is still buoyant, with retailers offering massive discounts to entice buyers.
The result? An armada of jet skis crowded boat ramps, much to the chagrin of locals who fear the situation will only deteriorate as the summer season hits its peak.
‘The police and maritime have indicated an increase in the number of personal watercraft since the COVID lockdown,’ the Bayside Council reported.
The Bayside Council, which oversees the Kyeemagh boat ramp, has acknowledged the issue.
The ramp is ‘heavily used’ during the summer months, a challenge faced by ‘like most boat ramps’ in the city.
In response, the council has submitted a proposed solution plan for approval and is actively seeking grant funding to expand capacity.
‘Council has initiated a feasibility and concept design for additional parking at the Foreshore Drive Boat Ramp, owned by Transport for NSW and operated by the NSW Ports Authority, to provide additional capacity,’ a spokesperson explained.
In addition to infrastructure improvements, the council is also focusing on water safety education campaigns, aiming to enhance safety in these congested areas.
We at the Seniors Discount Club would love to hear from you, our members, about your experiences with boat ramps and watercraft congestion. Have you encountered similar issues? What solutions would you propose to ease the pressure on these vital access points to our waterways? Share your stories and suggestions in the comments below, and let's navigate these waters together.
The allure of the open sea and the thrill of water sports are hard to resist, and for many, this means hitching up the boat or jet ski and heading to the nearest boat ramp.
However, with this surge in aquatic enthusiasm comes a tidal wave of frustration as boat ramps across the country struggle to keep up with the booming trend of watercraft ownership.
The scene at one Sydney boat ramp encapsulates the chaos perfectly.
On a recent weekend, the Cooks River boat ramp was swamped with a long line of 4WDs, each towing a boat or jet ski, all jostling for their turn to hit the water.
The congestion was so severe that one man, caught in the gridlock, took to social media to vent his exasperation.
A long queue of motorists at a Cooks River boat ramp in Sydney's south highlights capacity issues ahead of summer. Credit: Facebook
‘And so it begins…if you have a boat or a family, don't bother going to [the] ramp,’ he lamented online.
‘We are not even at peak season yet, and the facilities are at capacity!’
His snapshot of the scene, with at least four vehicles queued up, was a stark illustration of the problem that seems to recur every year, and yet, according to him, little has been done by the council to alleviate the bottleneck.
‘You have no chance of launching the boat with the amount of jet skis there at the moment,’ the man added.
The frustration is palpable, and it's not just the boat owners who are feeling the squeeze. Jet ski enthusiasts are also finding themselves in choppy waters as the popularity of these personal watercraft continues to soar.
In fact, jet ski sales hit a record high in 2022, with nearly 10,000 units sold across Australia, as reported by Watercraft Zone.
Despite a dip in sales last year, the market is still buoyant, with retailers offering massive discounts to entice buyers.
The result? An armada of jet skis crowded boat ramps, much to the chagrin of locals who fear the situation will only deteriorate as the summer season hits its peak.
‘The police and maritime have indicated an increase in the number of personal watercraft since the COVID lockdown,’ the Bayside Council reported.
The Bayside Council, which oversees the Kyeemagh boat ramp, has acknowledged the issue.
The ramp is ‘heavily used’ during the summer months, a challenge faced by ‘like most boat ramps’ in the city.
In response, the council has submitted a proposed solution plan for approval and is actively seeking grant funding to expand capacity.
‘Council has initiated a feasibility and concept design for additional parking at the Foreshore Drive Boat Ramp, owned by Transport for NSW and operated by the NSW Ports Authority, to provide additional capacity,’ a spokesperson explained.
In addition to infrastructure improvements, the council is also focusing on water safety education campaigns, aiming to enhance safety in these congested areas.
