Warmies Boat Ramp Review

[triman]

Boat Ramp Review – The Warmies 20th May 2007

Location: Newport – just inside the mouth of the Yarra.
How to Get There and MapRef: Melways 56 C 5. Take the Williamstown Road exit off the Westgate Bridge then left into North Road at Newport Station. The ramp is at the end of North Road.
Costs: A daypass is $13 for 24 hours. Seasons tickets $77 for residents, $151 for non-residents but the pass is also usable at Altona.

Ramp Lanes: 2 lanes.
Pontoons/boat spaces: One pier each side, serving a total of about 8 boats, however several more could be tied up on the outsides of the piers.
Nearby speed limits/ special rules: 5 knot limit until in the Yarra, then 10 knots to the Breakwater.
Distance to open water: about 0.5 nm to the Yarra, about 1.5 nm to the Breakwater at Gellibrand.

Off street parking: Space for about 50 car/trailer combos in the car park.
Nearby overflow parking: None immediately apparent, possibly roadside parking in the Strand.
Grey Ghosts: The ramp is controlled by Hobson’s Bay Council and inspectors patrol periodically so a ticket is advisable. At the time I was there the machine was broken and apparently this is not unusual.

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

BBQ and playground equipment on site: NIL

Nearest Service Stations: Shell on Williamstown Road or in Ferguson Street near the Williamstown railway station, each about 5 minutes away, or at the Westgate, about 10 minutes.

Bait and Tackle: Nothing within walking distance.

Boat wash down: an area is set aside but no facility is available.
Fish cleaning tables: Good cleaning setup just clear of the ramp, with stainless bench and 2 taps.
Nearest carwash: Honestly, no idea.
Nearest corner store/milk bar/ food place: Take-away place on the corner of North Road and Douglas Parade, other wise the usual fast-food joints and up-market beaneries in Ferguson Street and Nelson Place.

Known problems: The marked channel from the ramp to the river is VERY narrow in places and you MUST stay within the marked channel or serious damage to your boat could result. On return there are 2 inlets on the west side of the Yarra; be careful you take the correct one.
Ramps can be busy in summer.

Advantages: Sheltered launch and retrieve in all winds. Gives good access to the Docklands and the only ramp on the west side of the Yarra.


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View downstream from the ramp. The channel is only marked by starboard hand buoys and beacons.


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Ramps from the seaward side


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The ramps from inshore, note the 2 piers.

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The ramp area and piers from upstream

Again a limit to the photos allowed in a post means this will be in 2 parts.

[triman]

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Ramps from the downstream, Southern side.

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Warning notice showing speeds and danger areas.


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The fishcleaning area.


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Public toilets

[grant]

The nearest bait shop is new port bait store - they have live bait and excellent quality frozen, there is also a frozen bait store on the corner of North road and douglas parade. its a small corner store.

g./

[seaeagle]

what a top effort triman! the pics look good, i like the cleaning table notice...lol

[mustang 76]

i have a question or 2 for fishing at the warmies . i hear alot of reports from here and i want to give it a go
are the fish good to eat ?
i read an artice a while back that fish caught in the yarra and surroundings (can't remember exactly ) and the maribyrnong river are contaminated .i know of a few ppl who only catch and release there . they will take home the pinnkies because they recon that they only go there for shelter .

what are your thoughts on this issue ?
reason why i ask is that my neighbour wants me to go out with him but ???????????? i don't know ????
his last trip ended up with 5 kg and 3 X 2-4 kg snapper and a 13 kg mulloway . if you ask me for this time of yr ! it is excelent .

mustang76

[Smellyfish]

I'd eat the Tailor cos the way that I see it, they are not resident fish so therefore you'd think that their flesh is not contaminated. Eating a resident fish such as a bream, forget it.

[Marty]

Nothing wrong with the warmies fish mate. I used to eat them in the 80's and early 90's and I'm ok.

The only fish to really watch out for would bi big bream. They take a long time to grow and may be more likely to absorb so nasties.

I wouldn't worry too much about it though.

Marty

[mustang 76]

thax guys for the info .

[Smellyfish]

How's that rash coming along Marty? Have you stopped glowing in the dark yet? Congrats on the sal e of your boat btw.