I advise that the Council are looking at the following options in relation to providing universal access to the paddleboats.

1. Council are currently preparing redevelopment plans for riverboat dock, an area where privately owned paddlesteamers operate from. Part of this is looking at one mooring that could be used by all paddleboat operators. This would designed to provide universal access for most times of the year. A particular difficulty is the significant rise of the river in times of flood. It is difficult to provide variable height universal access.

2. In the wet dock area adjacent to the it maybe possible to provide universal access to Council owned and other paddleboats.

This would require a review of access to the Port to be undertaken and how private operators could be considered under this arrangement.

To this end Council is trying to get funding for a grant with waterways to explore mooring issues, which would include how best universal access could be provided.

Council is also pursuing other funding opportunities with a hope to finding an economic solution to these issues. The work cannot proceed until funding is achieved.

I trust that this provides sufficient information.

I will send you a copy of the Riverboat Dock Landscape Masterplan which has sections relating to disability access and states that these will be need to be addressed as part of the design plans and during implementation. This will be put in the mail today. Once this has been received by you, I would be pleased if the application could proceed.

Ralph Kop
General Manager Assets and Planning
Shire of Campaspe
Phone 54 812242
Fax 54812290

email r.kop@campaspe.vic.gov.au