Great Lakes Council has agreed to investigate possible options for the Water St site following a request from the North Arm Cove Residents Association to see a dinghy ramp and storage rack installed.

Council’s manager of parks and gardens, David Bortfeld said while the area is not a designated boat launching ramp it has been historically used and will continue to be for that purpose as there have been no negative comments regarding its use.

In their request to council the association has applied for a three tiered rack to hold five tinnies on each level to ease council concerns of dinghies being laid on private land. The group says a rack will allow boats to be padlocked on site meaning fewer cars and trailers, negating the need for additional parking.

Chairman of the association John Blackbourn said the decision is a “positive direction for the future.”

“Our initial thinking will see a 70 metre concrete ramp of say three metres wide which should cater for all tide launching and retrieval of tinnies so that all residents can finally achieve use of our beautiful facility, the waters of the Cove and Port Stephens,” he said.

“It might have taken us 91 years to achieve a boat ramp since Burley-Griffin designed North Arm Cove but we are finally getting there. With the continued help and good grace from the Great Lakes Council, NSW Maritime and the Marine

Parks Authority, we will finally achieve the dream of providing safe and convenient boat launching facilities for all our residents. A much needed facility as we don’t have anything for our non waterfront residents.”

Council is expected to conduct further surveys into options for a possible boat launching facility at the Water St site.