Boat ramp ‘not safe'
COFFS Harbour boaties and fisherman would be happy to pay to use the harbour boat ramp but only if it's a safe environment.
Regular users of the boat ramp believe there's a number of safety issues that need to be dealt with before any thoughts of introducing a user pays system should be considered.
"I don't mind paying for the use of something like the boat ramp but only if it's worth it," regular boat ramp user Bruce Fairbridge said.
"At the moment the boat ramp isn't worth two-bob."
The major concern raised by regular users of the boat ramp is the water surges that regularly flow into the channel.
Water surges force boats into the rocks, leave vehicles suddenly submerged and cause injury.
Mr Fairbridge said that he's seen tourists swear they'll never return to Coffs Harbour to fish after experiencing the poor conditions at the boat ramp.
Having used the ramp each weekend to go fishing, Mr Fairbridge believes that the wall built in front of the ramp requires modification to stop water surges becoming an issue.
"Anyone who's designing that wall needs to get out from behind a desk and actually ask the fisherman for help," he said.
"The wall isn't out far enough and it needs to have a hook in it."
