Darlington Point boat ramp gets the green light

A new public boat ramp and floating pontoon will be built at Darlington Point following Murrumbidgee Council’s decision to approve the project at the July meeting.

Murrumbidgee Mayor Ruth McRae said the approval marks a significant step forward in the $1.2 million project which has been in the pipeline since 2016.

Cr McRae said Council had previously appointed Town Planning and Urban Design Consulting firm, Habitat Planning to independently assess the project.

“Councillors carefully considered advice from Habitat Planning and determined that the project should be proceed with a stringent set of 60 conditions,” Cr McRae said.

“Matt Johnson from the firm provided his report to the Council meeting, which included three options of either refusing the approval consent, deferring the decision and seeking further information, or approving the development application subject to conditions.

“The project has faced significant challenges along the way and it is pleasing that the project now has the approval to formally proceed,” she said.

The decision was made at Council’s July meeting, with a number of community members in the public gallery to support the project.

This included representatives from Rich River Irrigation, David Lee and Claire Fitzpatrick, who have designed the ramp, pontoon and associated infrastructure. Both Mr Lee and Ms Fitzpatrick addressed the meeting.

Darlington Point Apex Club representative Chris Sutton also made a presentation in support of the project.

The new boat ramp will be built on the southern side of the Murrumbidgee River, opposite the Darlington Point Caravan Park and adjacent to the Darlington Point flood levee bank.

It will replace the existing boat ramp that has significant compliance issues.

“The new boat ramp will have many benefits, including enhanced safety, accessibility and connection to the town,” added Cr McRae.

Murrumbidgee Council will fund the project to the tune of $750,000, with the remaining $450,000 funded through a Boating NSW grant.

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