Community
10 October, 2025
Low tide boat ramp opened
AFTER a long process, the Lake Purrumbete Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management has officially opened a temporary boat ramp while water levels at the lake remain low.
The ramp was made open to the public last Friday, with the process to open the temporary ramp beginning in November 2024.
Committee treasurer Andrew Benallack said the committee made the decision to apply to open the temporary boat ramp when it became clear the water level of the lake was going to impede boat access following Christmas.
“An email asking for assistance in activating the drought water level boat ramp – originally installed in 2008 to address the same problem – was sent to Parks Victoria who is the committee’s boss,” he said.
“After Christmas – as predicted by the committee – the lake’s water level suffered dramatically and by summer’s end 2025 all boating activity had basically ceased.
“This was the motivation the committee needed to complete this task as quickly as possible.
“In April 2025 Parks Victoria (state level) were contacted again to remind them what was happening to this very important freshwater asset and on their instruction the committee were to liaise with the Port Campbell Office.
“The committee then undertook the large and tedious task of surveying and designing the scope of works that would need to be created to complete this job and satisfy the departments’ requirements.”
The process to open the temporary boat ramp took a total of 11 months from the initial email, with Mr Benallack saying the committee faced many road blocks and bureaucratic hurdles during the process.
He said each milestone gave the committee relief, and they were grateful to everyone who contributed to the project.
“A special thank you must go to Jeremy Walsh, Lois Dupleix and families for their generosity in allowing this project to be undertaken and completed on their private property,” Mr Benallack said.
“Without their permission and the efforts of Natasha Johnston, Emma Drake and staff from Parks Port Campbell Office to deal with the administrative work behind the scenes this project would never have been finished.”