NORTH Haven boat ramp has been partially closed for safety reasons following an inspection by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
Council officers were made aware of issues with the boat ramp and conducted a site inspection last month.
It was decided to partially close one lane of the boat ramp because of risk issues and to monitor the other side.
The council’s recreation and buildings group manager Liam Bulley said the boat ramp was upgraded in late 2012 to include a floating pontoon.
Some widening of the ramp was required to allow for launch/retrieval lanes on either side of the pontoon.
Mr Bulley said the upgrade has been positively received by the boating community.
However, as the result of the upgrade the concentration of boat propulsion over the centre of both launch/retrieval lanes has significantly eroded the base material from under the concrete ramp planks.
“This erosion has resulted in failure of pre-existing concrete ramp planks which were found not to contain steel reinforcing,” Mr Bulley said.
The remaining existing base material will be excavated and replaced with significant ballast rock to prevent the likelihood of such a failure in future.
A design for the repair of the facility has been developed by council staff and approval is being sought from relevant state agencies to allow for works to proceed.
Works are likely to proceed after the school holiday period.
