Fee increase proposed for Bluff Boat Ramp
Invercargill City Council is proposing an increase in fees for the Bluff Boat Ramp as part of wider changes to its fees and charges for the year ahead.
Casual fees would rise from $25 to $30 per use, while annual permit prices would increase to $155 per year for boats under 6 metres and $215 per year for larger vessels.
Bluff Community Board Chair Ray Fife said it was always the vision when Council took control of the boat ramp for it to be financially sustainable, with user charges funding the ongoing maintenance.
“All funds collected in fees go back into maintaining the facility, including the clearing of silt and rocks off the ramps, structural repairs and ongoing improvements,” he said.
Changes to the fee structure would see the introduction of an annual permit for commercial vessels and an annual 60% discount for clubs, making the boat ramp more accessible for local community groups.
The various usage options meant people could get the best value for their needs while still making an equitable contribution, Fife said.
“An annual permit essentially gets cheaper the more you use it. For a 6-metre boat, if you go out every week, it works out to just over $4 per launch.”
Compliance fees for failing to pay would also rise from $100 to $110 for casual users, and from $690 to $760 for commercial users.
Fife said enforcing compliance was important to make sure people were using the ramp in a way that was fair for everyone.
“The facility is there for the whole community. Most boaties do the right thing, but we need to have mechanisms in place to ensure everyone who uses the ramp is contributing to its upkeep,” he said.
Council introduced fees for the Bluff Boat Ramp last year, after taking ownership in 2019 and upgrading the facility as part of the 2021-2031 Long-term Plan.
Public consultation on the proposed changes to fees and charges opened on 25 March and will close on 24 April.
Submissions could be made online at letstalk.icc.govt.nz or in-person at the Bluff Service Centre, Splash Palace, Te Hīnaki – Civic Building and the Invercargill Public Library.
