| Why is it that every time I turn around I hear about another boat ramp being closed at night because a few yahoos get around the location and make a bit of noise. Haven't councils heard that many fishermen want to fish before dawn or after dark?
So now we have, at last count, Bayview, a ramp at Penrith (a rumour?), the ramp at Picnic Point and the ramp at Chipping Norton all closed from sunset to dawn (and I'm sure there's others). That's just great, the innocent people that have nothing to do with a problem have to pay with no access after dark. What a great attitude, don't worry about the perpetrators, just penalise all the innocent users. Just when are our 'representatives' going to do that - represent us? When are they, and the police, going to tackle the problem instead of taking the easy way out and banning everyone because of the actions of a few?
Do the councils really think that closing off a ramp will deter mindless ratbag revheads from making a noise and disturbing residents? If they are I think they are having themselves on. So the boat owners get penalised and the problem goes on with no solution.
Its not like we are over endowed with quality boat ramps in Sydney as it is. On the south side of the harbour there isn't one ramp between Rose Bay and Concord. Let alone a good one. And many of the ramps are a disgrace. Imagine paying the sort of money you have to live in a place like Cronulla and having to put up with a pitiful single lane, narrow, dodgy ramp like the one in Gunnamatta Bay (see our ramp guide).
Well I think we all should do something about it. We need to apply pressure to the councils and to government in general to lift the quality of the ramps available. We need to write, fax and email the councils and the government. Don't forget the opposition too. They just might like to have something to beat the sitting party over the head with.
In addition, we would like to contribute here. Send us information about the state of repair or access of your local ramp and we'll publish it here - Perhaps the bot ramp disgrace of the month. You never know the bad publicity for the responsible council might have an effect.
Just send us an email and we'll see what we can do. | |  |
