South Burnie Beach - Boat Ramp Redevelopment Project

Announcement

🚤 Exciting news! Work is now complete on this beautifully upgraded community asset and is now open to the public from 4 October 2024. Safe and happy boating everyone! 😊

Project value$930,000 ( of which $630,000 is Tasmanian Government grants and funding)
Completion Date03 October 2024

Council is progressing capital works at the South Burnie Esplanade precinct this financial year. The objective of the infrastructure development is to improve the overall amenity and functionality of the South Burnie Boat Ramps including improved access and parking for recreational boat users, other watercraft, and fishermen/women.

Last November 2022, Council undertook consultation with key stakeholder groups to develop a concept design, and sort community feedback on the project to finalise the concept, before progressing to a development application, land use permits and detailed design.

Jump to Recent Project Updates

The project elements are:

Boat Trailer Parking and Shared Pathway

The existing access road between the inner and outer boat ramps is proposed to be widened to the east to create a 1.5 m wide pedestrian/shared pathway, a 5.0 m wide one way access and new rigging and de-rigging boat trailer parks at the Outer Boat Ramp. All road and pathway surfaces will be asphalt. The boat trailer turn/manoeuvring areas will be concrete.

At the Outer Boat Ramp, the boat trailer manoeuvring space will be widened to the east. The existing DDA compliant carpark space will be retained and upgraded to include a new DDA compliant boat trailer park.

At the Inner Boat Ramp, the space on the north side will be enlarged to create 4 boat trailer parks and 2 new boat trailer parks will be a created at a widened two way access road between the main carpark and the inner boat ramp.

A 1.5 m wide pedestrian/cycle shared pathway will be provided along the west side of the development from the Coastal Pathway junction to the Outer boat ramp. This pathway aims to provide defined safe access to all precinct users. Associated facilities will include parking space/signage and pathway line marking, additional CCTV cameras and lighting.

This project element is facilitated by a State Recreational Fishing and Camping Facilities Grant of $200,000 and a Council contribution of up to $300,000.

New Concrete Stepped Pier

A new stepped concrete pier is to be placed at the outer Boat Ramp. Funded by Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST), the new structure aims to improve flexibility and access for launch/retrieve and docking. It will supplement the existing timber and lower jetty and is designed to cater for a wide range of craft. The approximate cost is $300,000.

The concept is for a straight concrete pier that would enable docking on both sides of the pier at the outer end. Some stakeholders have suggested a pier that is flared out at the western end is necessary to create a wider boat manoeuvring space, however a flared pier arrangement would not provide for docking on both sides, due to its proximity to the breakwater bund armour rock and will likely make the pier harder to use at lower tide levels for single handed operators.

Existing Outer Timber Jetty

The existing outer timber jetty structure, with the lower jetty on its shore side will remain and be upgraded, funded by a State Government Recreational Boating and Fishing Grant of $130,000, to provide ongoing use by the boating and fishing community. The upgrade works will substantially extend the life of the timber structure by providing new whalers, bracing systems and pile repairs. Fenders on the existing FRP lower jetty will be extended to above the high water mark for improved visibility and it will receive minor repairs.

	The Vision - First round of consultation ends November 2022
	Public Consultation closes 4 December 2022
	Land use and other Permits February 2023
	Design and Tender and Appointment of Contractor planned December 2022 to April 2023
	Construction - Commencement through to Completion planned August to November 2023

Project Updates:

3 Oct 3024

Exciting news! Thanks to the recent good weather, asphalting works have now been completed at the Emu Bay Boat Ramps & Jetty in South Burnie.

The new asphalt will have line marking work done tomorrow, 3 October. Once this work is complete, this beautifully upgraded community asset will be open to the public tomorrow afternoon - just in time for the public holiday on Friday. ��

20 July 2024

Works are continuing on the South Burnie Beach Boat Ramp Redevelopment Project, with repairs of the existing outer timber jetty (pictured above) now complete, while construction of the adjacent concrete pier (pictured below) is still ongoing.

The work on the jetty will substantially extend the life of the timber structure and involved the installation of new whalers, bracing systems and pile repairs.

Construction of the new stepped concrete pier at the outer Boat Ramp is funded by Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) and the new structure aims to improve flexibility and access for launch and retrieval of vessels, as well as docking. Once complete, the pier will supplement the existing timber and lower jetty and is designed to cater for a wide range of craft.

Asphalting works on the project were delayed, allowing the jetty and pier works to be completed and to avoid work during the Summer months so that both boat ramps could stay open during this time of peak demand. Now that Winter is here, work is progressing well on asphalting the outer section of the project, while keeping the inner boat ramp open to the public for as long as possible during construction works.

Work on this project is currently expected for completion by late August to mid-September.

30 April 2024

The boat ramp will be closed again next week, for the jetty & concrete pier works.

From now until the end of June, please expect that the boat ramp will be closed periodically, and for extended periods of time at short notice, by the sub-contractors delivering the work on the Boat Ramp, Jetty & Pier works (all subject to tides & weather).

Here’s an update on the process and what we’re currently focusing on:

Refurbishment of the Timber Jetty is well underway now!
Construction works for the Concrete Stepped Pier, which is set to begin this coming week.
The contractor Hardings Hotmix is set to recommence Stage 2 of the road works and bund wall towards the end of May, with all works to be completed by the end of June 2024.

We appreciate your continued support and respect around the worksite this maintenance will ensure the longevity of the South Burnie Boat Ramp for many years to come!

13 October 2023

Contractor Harding Hotmix, has informed council that Stage One is now complete.

The area is now re-opened for the community to use, including access to the outer boat ramp for those upcoming long days of fishing.

There is now a wider road, including turnaround bays and more accessible parking.

Stage 2 works will recommence in early 2024, after everyone's summer holiday fun!

Thank you to the community for your patience as we transform this area by improving the overall amenities and functionality of the South Burnie Boat Ramps

22 September 2023

Harding’s have advised they will start the clearing works as shown in the highlighted area below.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane from the existing carpark to the inner ramp and the outer ramp will still be closed per current conditions

The clearing will begin on Wednesday 27th September and will run for approximately 2.5 weeks.

21 August 2023

Harding’s will start work on Monday 28 August 2023. There will be a locked gate at the inner boat ramp manned during work hours.

The first stage will be the completion of rockwork and widening prior to the installation of the new Jetty and concrete pier projects.

Please be aware of changed access to the South Burnie Boat Ramp

For the publics safety during the development, we ask that you remain at a safe distance.

21 June 2023

The project is progressing well, albeit a little behind time due to the extended design and approvals process. Council has now received Development Application (Land Use Permit) and Crown Land approval for the project and is currently out to tender for Contract 2700 - Civil Works, for which tenders close on 7 July 2023.

Running parallel with this Contract will be a separate Contract 2701 – Timber Jetty Upgrade & Concrete Pier.

Council aims to appoint Contractors to start the works during August 2023, with the aim of completion of the project in early November 2023. Council will advise the community of restricted access conditions at times as the works proceed.

1 May 2023

An underwater inspection of the Outer Timber Jetty will be undertaken. There may be some public access restrictions to the jetty during the afternoon.

Use of the Outer Boat Ramp will not be restricted, however please follow instructions of Council Contractor to ensure public safety.