Marine and Safety Tasmania attempting to fix Swansea Boat Ramp

In 2017, the Tasmanian government, through Marine and Safety Tasmania, committed $700,000 towards the redevelopment of the Swansea Boat Ramp, with the federal government committing a further $600,000.

The project was aimed at improving marine safety, particularly during the launch and arrival of boats.

The upgrade was initially successful, but by 2019 a large amount of sand had accumulated on and around the beachside town's ramp.

Swansea homeowner Mark Tapsell said that since then, launching a vessel from the ramp had become exceedingly difficult.

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"It's like quicksand, as soon as you reverse back past a certain point it just pulls you in," he said.

"I've seen cars get bogged, not just to the axles, but all the way to the chassis."

Two years ago, in an attempt to improve water depth at the end of the ramp, MAST removed 2500 cubic metres of sand, to no avail.

A MAST spokesperson said they were working with the council to resolve the issue, which they believed was due to "consistent, but unusual", easterly weather patterns.

In short, sand movement is caused by water flow, which is effected by the wind, none of which can be altered through any means of human intervention.

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Glamorgan-Spring Bay mayor Robert Young said if the build up was, in fact, caused by weather, he was doubtful that the problem had a simple resolution.

Quick and efficient accessibility to the ocean is essential for numerous groups in the Swansea community. None more so than Freycinet Volunteer Marine Rescue, who are tasked with retrieving people in distress from the water, a task that Commander Col Barney said could be hindered by the ramps inaccessibility.

However, the physical health of the community wasn't the only thing locals thought could be impacted by the insufficient ramp. The mental health of avid fishers and businesses reliant on the fishing industry where also cited as being at risk.

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Swansea Holiday Park proprietor Peter Woodward said the issue seemed to have directly affected the amount customers staying at his establishment. "The odd person will come in towing a boat or jet-ski, but only because they're not aware of the difficulty they're about to face," he said.

Swansea Fishing Charters owner Jack Kelly believed the hour of commuting he undertook each day could be shaved down to a matter of minutes if the ramp was usable. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson said he could understand the community's frustration.

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