Many advantages to another boat ramp

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Recently on a trip to Whakatane (which has a smaller population than Gisborne), I was impressed with their several boat ramps and ample parking for all. Napier of course has superb boating facilities . . . while we in Gisborne have one double ramp but only a single floating jetty to service the majority of watercraft going both in and out at the same time.

The lack of inner harbour development for boat access is getting me, like others, very frustrated.

Maybe, thinking outside the square, we could move forward and find a solution for all. One possibility is to consider another ramp at an alternative site that may have been overlooked.

The location suggested is the area at the eastern end of Kaiti Beach. It has a natural sheltered bay with cliffs on one side and a reef on the other.

With some effort, a ramp could be put in adjacent to the reef with a small breakwater.

Several years ago the Kaiti Beach road went all the way to the bay. There has been some erosion over the years and the road has been closed off. Now it attracts illegal dumping of rubbish and is an eyesore.

Reclamation would be required, but more boaties would have an alternative location to launch. There would also be ample room for cars and trailers to park.

Another advantage for this location is that it is actually closer to fishing and boating locations.

Recently there was a search and rescue run off the neighbouring yacht club dinghy ramp (which was designed for small yachts and tinnies). Had the weather been rough or a larger craft required, this would not have been an option. This shows the need for a launching facility closer to the open sea.

A second ramp would also free up space at the inner harbour, which would benefit non-boating people also wanting to park. It would also free up Eastland Port and ease congestion when the cruise ships come to town. This location could benefit everyone, not just boaties.

Colin Shanks