Patricia Gill, Denmark Bulletin
The boat ramp at Ocean Beach will be closed on Friday, December 23 due to storm damage until the end of January when the closure will be reviewed. The Shire of Denmark says safety is the reason for the closure.
Beach erosion poses a risk to buildings and other infrastructure, and the reduced size of the beach, increased congestion of vehicles, trailers, boats and beachgoers in the holidays create a public safety hazard.
This leaves boaters and fishers with Parry Beach, Peaceful Bay and Albany as the nearest alternative ocean boat launches.
Representatives from local Police, Denmark Surf Lifesaving Club, Marine Rescue, Denmark Boating and Angling Club and the Shire have decided the closure is in the best interests of public safety.
Marine Rescue and the Denmark Surf Lifesaving Club will be able to use the ramp to conduct their duties.
A veteran surf school permit holder will also have access to park near the boat ramp.
The situation at Ocean Beach will be monitored and the closure reviewed at the end of January.
No exemptions for private or public use will be granted to boat users to use the ramp due to the unacceptable safety risk.
The only authorised users of the boat ramp and track will be Marine Rescue, Denmark Surf Lifesaving Club and the surf school permit holder.
The Local Emergency Management Committee recently raised concerns about the risks and asked for a meeting of stakeholders to deal with them.
Ramp closure ‘responsible decision’
A Shire of Denmark spokesperson said when it came to public safety concerns, it was necessary to seek advice from first responders and emergency services.
“The analogy of a safety inspection of a bridge has been used to explain this,” the spokesperson said.
“We think advice on whether or not a bridge is safe to use should be left up to engineers, not members of the public.
“We have made the only responsible decision to maintain public safety as best we can at the popular, highly-congested beach over the peak season.”
This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 22 December 2022.
