New Ramp Hinze Dam Complaint.

[rayke1938]

Hi Copy of email from Steve Wilkes.

Hi Ray

I was speaking to Greg Kearney today. He is the treasurer of the Hinze Dam Fishing Advisory Committee. He was there on the weekend and saw the ramp for the first time. To say the least, he was furious. They were told it was going to be at least two lanes wide and possibly three. They also advised on what gradient to build the ramp and the location was also moved from what was originally discussed.

I’m down there from tomorrow for the next few days, so I’ll have a look at it as well. Greg was keen to get some feedback and some written letters with any concerns. He felt it would be very difficult for him to unload his canoe.

So the story goes...the Hinze Dam Alliance, hasn’t listened to what the Hinze Dam Fishing Advisory Committee requested (and they thought they were getting). The advisory committee is keen to get this sorted and have the Hinze Dam Alliance alter the ramp before SEQWater takes over the control of the dam...which is not too far away.

I was wondering if you could put a post on AFO and see if anyone who used that ramp could provide a letter to The Hinze Dam Advisory Committee expressing their concerns.

I’m back on Friday, so even if they want to send them to me and I’ll compile them and pass them on to Greg.

Thanks

Kind regards

Steve Wilkes

Director

Email for Steve.info@sportstuition.com.au

Email for hinze alliance is info@hinzedamalliance.com.au.

Cheers

Ray

[Death Ray]

Ray where is the new ramp located? Is it still on the westside near the wall? Good luck walking down that one once its wet..........

[rayke1938]

It is quite a few kays form the old ones I forgot to take a mileage.

Cheers

Ray

[jeff f]

the new ramp is near ians island if that helps deathray

[Aaron H]

Well thats disappointing have been looking forward to the new ramp as its in a great location

[Aaron H]

Is the concrete looking section the 'proposed' new height of the dam with the raised wall

[Dinodadog]

I would say so mate,its not very yak friendly either as there is sharp gravel all over the place.

[fishingnut]

is it steeper than borumba ?

[tomca]

its a touch over 4 km from the old western Ramp, and I backed down the ramp a bit, and no way would I get the yak on the roof and keep it there while trying to strap it down, and all the sharp rubble on the side would gouge plastic and glass yaks and boats. And the danger of twisted ankles from the sharp, rubbly (is that a word?) grade shouldn't be ignored. Can't remember the australian standards for that type of grade but I would be very suprised if it complied.

But at the end of the day most "advisory committees" are thanked for their input then ignored anyway

[rayke1938]

Copy of email ( gunna have to get spell check working on my IE)sent to Hinze Dam Alliance and my local MP.

Feel free to amend and also send to your local member and hinze alliance.Who knows maybe they will do something about it.

Cheers

Ray

Flag this messageDangerousw new Boat Ramp at Hinze DamTuesday, 29 June, 2010 8:17 PM

From: "raymond kennedy" View contact detailsTo: info@hinzedamalliance.com.auCc: "peter dowling" Bcc: "andrew kennedy" , "ray kennedy" , "Sports Tuition" I wish to draw to your attention the dangerous and unsatisfactory conditions that exist at tne new boat ramp.

I used this ramp over the weekend and personally experienced the following conditions that need urgent rectification.

The end of the ramp is covered in loose gravel and my brakes locked up in the gravel and my car and boat trailer just slid down the ramp no matter carefully bI applied the brakes.

With the brakes locked up I had no steering.

When winching my boat back onto my trailer I had to get someone to sit in the car and apply the footbrake and chock the wheels as with only the handbrake applied the weight of the boat on the trailer caused my car to slide backwards in the loose gravel.

I also observed another car that was front wheel drive unable to drive his car and loaded trailer up the ramp due to loss of traction.

He had to get someone with a four wheel drive to tow him up the ramp.

Why is there no provision for a disabled parking space within 100 m of the ramp? I have 2 dodgy knees and it is extremely difficult for me to negioate the very steep ramp.

I also heard and observed a person trying to launch his kayak from the ramp.

When he untied his kayak from his roof rack the kayak slid straight off the roofrack and damaged both the kayak and his car.

Another problem is the stones placed beside the ramp to controll the water run off. If a car is using the ramp a pedestrian has to walk on these very rough and unstable stones and runs a risk of turning anj ankle or worse.

Once you launch your boat there is nowhere to move it to due to these stones.

Obviously the grade of the ramp is far too steep and the ramp needs to be relocated.

Why is the ramp only one vehicle wide ?

Why are there only 10 designated trailer parking places allocater?

Why are there no spaces allocated for normal cars?

I would appreciate an early response as to what you propose to do to rectify the above problems.

Ray Kennedy

6 Rustic Court

Redland Bay.

0732068583
/>http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff255/rayke1938/P6260045

[crazywalrus]

Hi Ray

I use Google Chrome and it has the spell checker out of the box.

Cheers Ted

[elops]

Is the old ramp at Jones Rd. the one upstream sill open does anyone know ?.

[rayke1938]

Copy of response recieved from the Hinze Dam Alliance.

Hi Ray,

Thank you for your recent email. We have passed on your comments to our engineers and Seqwater (the asset owner) for consideration. Please note, however, that this facility has not been officially opened and is not available for public use. We have encountered repeated acts of vandalism that have delayed the official opening of this facility.

Unfortunately, unauthorized access has been made possible due to locks and chains have being cut, and bolts sheared to allow unauthorized personnel into what is still technically a Hinze Dam Alliance work site. Thank you again for you feedback.

Kind regards,

Hinze Dam Alliance

Those nasty vandalls are to blame for everything.

I am endeavouring to find out if there is a recommended standard for the provision of new ramps aqnd infrastructure.

Cheers

Ray

[Death Ray]

This wouldn't have happened when Russ Hinze was in charge............

[Dinodadog]

old ramp was being used at the weekend

[tomca]

Of course!

Vandals jacked the ramp up to a really, really steep angle. And dumped all that quarry rock around the edges.

All makes perfect sense to me now

[rayke1938]

I attended a meeting yesterday afternoon attended by Representatives from Hinze Alliance,Seq Water,Hinze Rangers,Steve Wilkes from Sports Tuition,Local member,and Reps from the stocking group.

The end result is that the majority of people were able to have their say and it was agreed that the opening of both new ramps will be delayed until September to allow problems to be identified and if possible resolved.

There will be another meeting in a few weeks time and a possible site inspection of both sites to see how our differences can be resolved.

Cheers

Ray.

[yellahunter]

Hey Ray,

what are the issues that need ironing out?

are the things spoken about in the post above (parking, gravel on ramp, disabled access etc) or the fact that people keep shearing the chain off...etc..??

ive managed to fish there a couple of times when the gates have been left open and cant see what else needs to be done.. everything looks ok and to be honest both times i did get in there i thought it must have been finished and opened up to the public

also was there any mention of the old eastern ramp,

for mine that was a lot better than the current western one...

is the eastern temp ramp just gone for good..?

any info appreciated,

cheers mate

Ben

[rayke1938]

Most of the issues have been identified in the post but a few others were brought up at meeting.Such as minimal public access to the waters edge for family picnic combined with yaking /canoeing/bank fishing.

The new public area on the western side will not have any water access.

The old eastern ramp near the intake tower has gone for good because of safety issues being too close to the intake tower.

Hopefully the temp eastern ramp will open as soon as the tree clearing and other works are completed.

I am relying on my recollection of the meeting and hopefully I will recieve a copy of the minutes and will be able to update or correct any mistakes I have made.

Apparently they have lost a few solar panels and pumps from the toilet block and the block has been tagged several times.They are cutting through the chain with battery powered grinders.

Cheers

Ray