Safer Boat Launching at Lady Bay

Have your say on safer boat launching options at Lady Bay - online survey below.

Message from the Mayor

As Victoria’s largest coastal city outside of Port Phillip Bay, much of what makes Warrnambool great is linked to our connection to the Southern Ocean.

Swimming, fishing, surfing, walking, boating and admiring the natural beauty of Lady Bay are major factors that can influence a decision to either visit or live in Warrnambool.

Council is committed to improving boat launching and retrieval facilities in Lady Bay while avoiding any potentially irreversible damage to our most important natural asset.

Strategic dredging carried out by the Council in 2010 brought about a reduction in wave height around the boat ramp. In November last year Council established technical and community reference groups to investigate further options to make launching and retrieving boats at Lady Bay safer.

The reference groups comprising scientists, Lady Bay user group representatives and members of the public, have identified three preferred safer boating options.

These options are outlined below along with a summary of the existing boating facilities.

With each option, the benefits of improving boating facilities must be weighed against the potential impact on the environment, Council’s budget and on the amenity of all those who enjoy Lady Bay.

The wave action in the harbour is complex and any certain solution is difficult to guarantee. Each of the three options will significantly reduce wind-generated swell, however long waves - a different type of wave - will still impact on the harbour.

This feedback form is not a referendum but will help guide the Council and provide a gauge on support for the various options. It also provides an opportunity for written comment.
 

Before us is a major decision with the potential to cause significant change to Lady Bay and the Merri Sanctuary. It’s vital we get it right.

Council is now eager to receive public feedback on the options before the development of a master plan.

Port of Warrnambool - background and current situation

The Port of Warrnambool is a Victorian Government-owned asset managed by Warrnambool City Council.

The heritage-listed Breakwater, built in the late 1800s, is the key piece of Port infrastructure and was built to protect boats from the pounding of the mighty Southern Ocean.

Over the past five years the boat ramp has been upgraded along with a lower landing attached to the Breakwater. Work has also been carried out on the Breakwater including rendering of the stone and concrete blocks and installation of new lights.
The ramp is also cleaned when conditions allow.

In 2010 major strategic dredging was undertaken with follow-up dredging in 2012 and 2013.

A wave study showed the dredging was effective in reducing wave height. Australian boat launching standards recommend launching in waves less than 20cm in height. The wave study showed that as a result of dredging it was safe to launch and retrieve boats 60 per cent of the time.

Warrnambool City Council made a commitment in its Council Plan to review the needs of Lady Bay users, including those who use the bay for boating.

This project, which considers the safer launching and retrieval of boats on Lady Bay, forms a key part of that commitment.

Regardless of which safer boating option is ultimately selected, the Breakwater will require significant rehabilitation in the medium term.

The three options are described in the Safer Boating Community Feedback Document available by clicking on the link to the right.

This document can be printed out, the survey completed and returned to Council at 25 Liebig Street OR you can complete the survey online below.