Little Beach boat ramp has been officially reopened following a $2.2 million upgrade, with further works to the reserve and amenities scheduled to begin mid- to late-2022.
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One of the most popular boat launch points in Port Stephens was closed for three months while the ramp was replaced with a higher and longer one with a gradual slope to make reversing and off-loading safer.
The ramp is also designed to prevent sand inundation, an issue that has long plagued the water access point, by allowing natural sand movement under the ramp.
"The new ramp is designed to ensure a better boating experience for users," the council's community and recreation coordinator, Brock Lamont, said in July when construction began.
"It [was] built on piles or piers to allow for natural sand movement under the ramp instead of it accumulating on top."
The new ramp has rock "armour" either side and stair access from the water.
The works were undertaken by a specialised contractor and funded through a $1.9m NSW Government's Boating Now program grant and $350,000 from Port Stephens Council.
"The upgrade is part of a larger scope of work at the Little Beach boat ramp facility and Transport for NSW has committed an additional $100,000 in funding to support the $180,000 installation of new accessible amenities," NSW Maritime executive director Mark Hutchings said.
The playground at Little Beach is set for a $75,000 revamp and the retaining wall separating the Nelson Bay beach from the reserve will be replaced - a $50,000 project - between May and June 2022.
The amenities block in the reserve is set to be replaced at a cost of $180,000 between July and September 2022. The brick building currently in the reserve was constructed in 1974 and extended in 1998.
Construction of the new accessible amenities building has been delayed to next year as the original concept went back to the council for a redesign following mostly unsupportive community feedback in March.
Mr Lamont told the Examiner in April that building new accessible amenities block was more cost-effective than renovating the existing building.
"The new building will change from gender specified toilets to unisex toilets, which allows for the number of toilet pans to be reduced. We are revisiting the design to ensure the new unisex facility meets the expectations of our community," he said.
"The internal shower spaces will be replaced by external beach showers. This is common in new facilities as internal showers have issues with ventilation, plumbing issues caused by sand build up and odour associated with a constantly wet internal environment.
"We do not currently provide public change room spaces in new amenities buildings. We acknowledge there is some community concern about the loss of changing areas and are reviewing this."
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