Bluff Boat Ramp FAQs

See the Bluff Boat Ramp page for an up-to-date list of fees.

We are collecting fees to help cover the cost of maintaining the Bluff Boat Ramp and associated facilities.

To alleviate burden on the ratepayer, boat ramp costs are being paid through a user pays model.

Fees are based on a financial assessment of recovery requirements and a thorough assessment of other similar facility charges nationally. User fees were benchmarked and market valued against other Territorial Authority boat ramp owners.

The fee structure and user pay operation has been discussed by the boat ramp working group and was the supported recommendation of staff, which was approved by the Bluff Community Board and Council. Fees were consulted on as part of the Long-term Plan process, adopted in 2024.

All of the money collected in fees goes back into running and maintaining the Bluff Boat Ramp and associated facilities.

Fees can be paid via the following options:

• Tap n Go terminal at the boat ramp (requires credit/debit card)
• ParkEasy (requires credit/debit card)
• Online Services function on the ICC website – can pay online via credit card/debit card.

Currently, you can only pay fees using the online payment portal, ParkEasy or at the Tap n Go pay station.

If you are having trouble paying the fee using these methods, you can come into one of the Council offices (101 Esk Street, Invercargill or 98 Gore Street, Bluff) for assistance, but we cannot accept cash payments.

You can also contact Invercargill City Council with any questions about how to pay:

• Phone: (03) 211 1777
• Email: customer.service@icc.govt.nz

Fees generated from use of the boat ramp will go back into the operation of the boat ramp and be used to pay for the annual maintenance, repair, depreciation and consenting requirements.

All of the money collected in fees goes back into running and maintaining the Bluff Boat Ramp.

It allows you to use the boat ramp.

Users are only charged once for launching and retrieving a boat, even if it is launched and retrieved on a different day.

If you buy an annual permit, it allows you to launch from the ramp as many times as you like for a year. The permit can be connected to up to three vehicle licence plates.

A licence plate recognition camera records the licence plate of every vehicle that launches and retrieves from the ramp.

If you use the ramp without paying, your licence plate will be picked up by the camera and you will have to pay an administration recovery fee and a non-compliant fee.

The current list of fees is available on the Bluff Boat Ramp page.

The joining fee is an additional fee when you buy an annual pass.

An annual permit allows users to launch from the ramp as many times as they like for a year. The permit can be connected to up to three vehicle licence plates.

The reason we have a joining fee is to help pay for the software and administration costs of setting someone up in the system.

The fee is compulsory when buying an annual permit but you only have to pay it once. If you buy another annual permit next year, there won’t be a joining fee.

You don’t have to pay a joining fee if you are paying the casual rate to use the ramp.

The fee is compulsory when buying an annual permit but you only have to pay it once. If you buy another annual permit next year, there won’t be a joining fee.

You don’t have to pay a joining fee if you are paying the casual rate to use the ramp.

Yes, there will be a one-off joining fee only for annual permits, and that will be removed for subsequent annual permits.

You don’t have to pay a joining fee if you are paying the casual rate to use the ramp.

The Bluff Community Board recommended that a boat size price difference be applied. Staff recommended in a report to Council that these be put in place for boats over 6 metres, as boat safety requirements are different for vessels over 6 metres and these will be well-known to boat users.

There are no concession fees or discounts for locals, but users can buy an annual pass which may work out cheaper per launch.

A 60% discount is available to clubs upon application. Please email parks.recreation@icc.govt.nz for more information.

A 60% club discount is available to clubs upon application. Please email parks.recreation@icc.govt.nz for more information.

Club discounts apply to recreational annual permits and are only available to clubs, not individuals.

Yes, they are both considered smaller than 6m and so will have the same fees. Same goes for something like a jet ski.

Commercial operators can pay per use or can purchase an annual permit.

The current commercial use and annual permit fees are available on the Bluff Boat Ramp page.

You are only charged when you launch a boat from the boat ramp. You will not be charged for using the jetties, but we ask that people only moor for up to 15 minutes at a time.

We’re happy to take feedback if you see someone using the facility in a way you don’t think is fair. Please contact Invercargill City Council to pass on any feedback:

• Phone: (03) 211 1777
• Email: customer.service@icc.govt.nz

Casual permits cannot be bought in advance, only on the day. If you purchase an annual permit, you can use the boat ramp at any time within 365 days from the date of purchase.

A licence plate recognition camera records the licence plate of every vehicle that launches and retrieves from the ramp.

If you use the ramp and don’t pay within 7 days, your licence plate will be picked up by the camera and you will have to pay an administration recovery fee and a non-compliant fee.

The current list of fees is available on the Bluff Boat Ramp page.

The Southland Regional Council Navigation and Safety Bylaw is operational from October 2026. This allows Invercargill City Council to enforce fines and proceed to court if payment is not made.

Please make an appeal in writing to Invercargill City Council.

Users are only charged once for launching and retrieving a boat, even if it is launched and retrieved on a different day.

Any business or organisation launching boats from the ramp for financial gain requires a commercial permit.

This will be verified by the licence recognition camera and through the annual permit system. You may be contacted if you have purchased a recreation permit using a business name.

The permit identifier will be the licence plate of the launching vehicle (the vehicle, not the trailer), and each permit holder can register up to three licence plates per permit. If the licence plate of the launching vehicle is already in the permit system, the vehicle will be considered an annual permit holder.

Yes – permit holders are only required to update their permit type when their renewal is due.

If you purchase an annual permit you can go out as many times as you like. Casual use will require payment each time you go out.

It will expire one year to the date you purchased the permit.

Yes, that would be a casual use payment for recreation and commercial use, which you can pay online (recreation and commercial) or on site (recreation use only).

Only for Bluff Boat Ramp at this stage. Further assessments are being undertaken for other Boat Ramps managed by ICC.

The pass allows up to three registered vehicles to be included. You can add up to three registered licence plates assigned to your permit.

You will be notified via email when your pass is due to expire.

A physical pass is not required.

Bluff Boat Ramp offers a virtual permit system that uses your launching vehicle licence plate as the unique identifier, there are no physical permits.

You first need to register online and create an accountand create an account.

Once registered, you can login to select and purchase your permit(s).

There are several different types of permit available:

• Commercial use (per launch and retrieve)
• Recreational annual permit for vessels under 6 metres
• Recreational annual permit for vessels over 6 metres
• Commercial Annual Permit

The current list of fees is available on the Bluff Boat Ramp page.

A 60% club discount is available upon application. Please email parks.recreation@icc.govt.nz for more information.

A joining fee is applied when setting up an annual permit for the first time. When renewing an annual permit, the joining fee won't apply.

Up to three licence plates can be registered to each permit.

If you change or replace your vehicle, please use one of the three registered plate options to add your new vehicle. If you need further assistance, please contact ICC.

You can contact ICC for assistance: Contact us - Invercargill City Council.

Please click here to reset your password.