THE waters of Lake Elingamite have reopened following the construction of a new, safer boat ramp.
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Cobden Angling Club president Michael Merrett said there had been no accidents using the previous jetty but it was getting increasingly dangerous.
“It was very uneven because of the soft mud and the way the old ramp was built,” he said.
“It got very steep and it was a bit dangerous. To get a boat launched was very tricky. We wanted to avoid any accidents.”
Work began on the new jetty in November, forcing the effective closure of the lake for boat traffic for about four weeks.
The ramp has been in the pipeline since earlier this year, when the Lake Elingamite Foreshore Committee received $40,000 from the Department of Transport and $31,000 from the Department of Primary Industries.
Mr Merrett said that on good days, the lake often had as many as 15 boats on it.
The construction of the new ramp is part of ongoing efforts to improve the access and facilities at Lake Elingamite and improve the fledgling tourism industry of the Cobden area.
Lake Elingamite is listed as a free overnight camping site, with Mr Merrett estimating that about 140 visitors had stayed there since October this year.
“We’re endeavouring to get toilets put in and we’re hoping to seek support from the government for that,” he said.
“We don’t get a cent from people when they stop here, but it’s good for the area and it’s good for Cobden.”