Big windfall for Botany Bay fishers

The 10 year effort by the members of South Sydney Amateur Fishing Association, Australian National Sportfishing Association and the Recreational Fishing Alliance has now got to the stage where public consultation on design ideas for a new boat ramp in Botany Bay is being called for.

The local recreational fishers worked with the Hon Robert Brown, the Hon Duncan Gay and the Hon Katrina Hodgkinson to get the new boat ramp on the Cooks River to the drawing board, easing the overcrowding at the Foreshore Rd boat ramp.

Stan Konstantaras, President of the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW and of the South Sydney Amateur Fishing Association says it has only taken 10 years of negotiation, but "a little persistence, good communication and a willingness to work with all levels of Government in NSW" has finally paid off for Botany Bay fishers.

The fishing organisations had already signed off on preferred models and locations for of a new fishing platform and the two new offshore artificial reefs in the middle of 2014, and have been awaiting the release of the public consultation phase of the new boat ramp to complete the $5m payout for loss of access due to the Port Expansion.

All the information is available on the website and community survey here.

The survey will close on April 2, so make sure you have a look and have your say.

Consultants to the project WorleyParsons are conducting a Community Information Session on Saturday March 21 at Kyeemagh Boat Ramp Reserve, Mutch Avenue, Kyeemagh between 10.00am and 1200noon. If enough people are interested they will include a visit to the project site at 11:30 am. All fishers are invited to attend this Community Information Session.