Werribee South Boat Ramp

[triman]

Boat Ramp Review – Werribee South

Location: Werribee South, mouth of the Werribee River
How to Get There and MapRef: Melways 209 E 10. Take the Werribee South exit off the Princes Highway then follow Duncans Road.
Cost: $10 for a day pass. Season tickets for about $60. Coast Guard Flotilla 10 man the ramp weekends and public holidays to collect fees.

Ramp Lanes: 5 lanes. The single ramp is very shallow and not recommended for anything bigger than a 3m tinnie.
Pontoons/boat spaces: 2 pontoons serving the single ramp, middle pair and the southern side of the northern pair. Space for about 20 boats.
Nearby speed limits/ special rules: 5 knot limit in the river until past the Yellow entrance beacon.
Distance to open water: about 0.5 nm.

Off street parking: Space for about 70 to 80 car/trailer combos in the main gravel park.
Nearby overflow parking: room for plenty more on the grassy paddock upstream of the ramp.
Grey Ghosts: No timed parking at the ramp so no fiscal fiends to lighten your wallet.

Toilets facilities: Men’s and Women’s toilets at the ramp.

BBQ and playground equipment on site: 4 electric BBQs and extensive children’s play areas.

Nearest Service Stations: Mobil on Duncans Road, 10km. 24 hour fuel at Shell Laverton

Bait and Tackle: Bait and limited tackle at the nearby caravan park store during business hours, otherwise “Reel Screamer” at the Werribee Plaza, about 15km away.

Boat wash down: new facility built in 2005 and unused due to water restrictions.
Fish cleaning tables: Good cleaning setup just north of the ramp, with stainless bench and 4 taps.
Nearest carwash: Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing, 14km
Nearest corner store/milk bar/ food place: limited services at the caravan park store, take-away place on Duncans Road, about 5km from the ramps, usual fast foods in Werribee as well as some good restaurants.

Known problems: Single ramp is very shallow and not recommended. Other 4 ramps work well with the Coast Guard keeping an eye on things when they are there. Shallow water upstream of the ramps, but with local knowledge it is possible to go about 4 km upstream to good bream water. The river mouth does silt up over time and periodic dredging is carried out. The deep water route in and out at low tides is clearly marked by leading lights.
Ramps can be busy in summer, but crowds are generally well behaved

Advantages: Sheltered launch and retrieve in all winds. The only good ramps between Altona and Geelong. Easy to locate from seaward by looking for the water tower.



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Single, shallow ramp with pontoon.


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Middle, 2-lane ramp, with adjacent pontoons


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Northern double ramp with pontoon on the seaward, southern side.


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c142/triman692003/DCP01893.jpg
Vehicle reversing area from the northern pontoons

Note that the original review included 14 phtots but there is a limit of 4 in any one post.
I'll post some general views in the next post.

[triman]

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c142/triman692003/DCP01885.jpg
The pier and front lead, on the tall post, from the ramp area.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c142/triman692003/DCP01882.jpg
The river and Entrance beacon, just above the seat.

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General overview, including playgrounds, barbecues etc.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c142/triman692003/DCP01891.jpg
Fish cleaning stations

[philthy]

just a note of warning at these ramps. Middle ramp/s are ok for all launches, however upriver ramp/s - the newest - has a sharper angled lip on the top than the others. This means that some of the larger, low profile trailers - usually 4 wheel - will bottom out as you exit fully laden, scraping the undercarriage. sometimes touches on the way down too. Just be aware and be careful.
We have brought this to the attention of Wyndham Council, and they have it on their to-do list to cut the lip back sometime in the future...?
Phil

[philthy]

The latest, the power to the main jetty has failed, thus no lights on the jetty, but more importantly, the front light of the lead in lights (blue) is out!
When rounding the tide gauge pile at the start of the river channel (orange light), you are supposed to line up the two blue lights to give you the bearing into the river dredged channel. You also must stay to the right of this line because the sand has encroached from the east into the dregded channle.
We have reported it to Parks Vic and Wyndham Council. Parks Vic has told us Power Corp has said its a blown fuse? and will fix it soon...?
One wonders if they see it as a priority for safe navigation at night.
Will keep you posted.
Phil

[grant]

Updates anyone?

[triman]

All lights are working, the river was dredged a few weeks back and upgrade works include a new set of pontoons upstream of the northern ramp, to be started soon