Committee calls to investigate options for Gnarabup boat ramp amid emergency concerns

Serious concerns reported earlier this year about difficulty accessing the Gnarabup boat ramp during emergencies have been taken on board by a key Shire of Augusta-Margaret River committee.

Margaret River police Sgt Simone Taplin recently followed up on concerns reported by the Times during the search for missing man Aaron Beveridge, raising them with the local emergency management committee.

The surfer disappeared in big swell off Surfers Point on June 7, and it took more than 20 minutes for emergency rescue volunteers to clear seagrass from the boat ramp before vessels could be launched.

At the time, the shire declined to answer questions about maintenance and access to the ramp, noting the search was under the direction of an incident controller.

Other stakeholders, including friends of Mr Beverage, noted the frequent build-up was “a massive problem” for rescues, as noted by Margaret River Surf Life Saving Club president Aaron McRae.

Sgt Taplin moved a motion at the latest LEMAC meeting for the shire to review options for keeping the boat ramp clear at all times.

That included the possibility of work on the ramp itself to reduce seasonal kelp build-up.

The motion also called for possible relocation of the ramp, with boat traffic in the busy carpark a frequent issue during summer.