The state government will consider funding to upgrade Warrnambool’s notorious boat ramp after a ute and trailer sunk on Thursday afternoon.
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The government revealed its interest in the project on Friday.
“The Andrews Labor Government will establish the Better Boating Fund to get to work immediately on urgent boat ramp upgrades and the Warrnambool boat ramp will be considered for funding,” a government spokeswoman said.
The government came under fire from Warrnambool City Council late last year after funding applications were knocked back.
But the council on Friday vowed to continue knocking on the door for cash to fix the slippery ramp that is prone to wave surges.
“Council has committed to once again apply for Victorian government funding to upgrade the ramp at the state-owned port of Warrnambool,” a council spokesman said.
“We have been in discussions with the Victorian government about last year’s unsuccessful application and about our intention to re-apply.”
A Holden Rodeo and trailer were under water for about three hours on Thursday before they were pulled out of the water by a tow truck.
Warrnambool man Phillip Pirotta, who was driving the vehicle, was the sole occupant and was not injured in the mishap.
Mr Pirotta said it was a combination of a slippery boat ramp and waves that dragged the ute in.
“The Warrnambool boat ramp is notoriously known for its slipperiness and with the surges of the waves it got a hold of the trailer and boat and car and dragged them in,” he said.
Recreational fisherman Warrnambool’s Rodney Blake, a long-term advocate for a safer Warrnambool harbour, said he was concerned about someone getting injured.
“The boat ramp has been unsafe for years,” he said.
“It’s lucky nobody was hurt.”
Mr Blake said that even experienced fishermen could get “caught out” at the boat ramp.
Mr Blake said he had talked to Warrnambool mayor Tony Herbert and other councillors recently and felt the council was invested in the development of the port.
Warrnambool Ratepayers Association president Brian Kelson said the boat ramp had been a problem for many years.
He said the only way it was going to be fixed was to have a fully enclosed harbour.
He said he had seen photographs of the ramp recently and noticed there was a lot of slime.
He questioned why it wasn’t pressure washed during the recent fishing competition.
