Position infrastructure for watercraft access to waterways at safe, protected locations.
Consider all modes of transport to watercraft launching facilities for vehicles and pedestrians.
Consult with watercraft user groups to identify areas such as temporary storage, setup and pre-launch sites. Incorrect positioning of future infrastructure such as tables/seats may impede or block existing temporary use areas. Any new infrastructure should avoid such areas where possible.
Provide clearly defined canoe put-in areas to discourage water craft users from selecting other locations which may worsen erosion.
Ensure that where canoe and kayak launching occurs, this facility does not diminish or detract from the open space and park areas, these functions should be separated.
Design a designated vehicle access to prevent vehicles from driving through parks and play spaces to launch watercraft as this creates potential conflicts with pedestrians.
When positioning recreational watercraft launching facilities, the preferred design layout, is separated locations:
Non-motorised (human powered) facilities and trailer launched watercraft ramps are totally separated and at different locations.
When designing separated recreational watercraft launching facilities, consider the following:
A distinct site separation of use is desirable in order to protect areas such as parks and open spaces and to protect pedestrian activity.
Where non-motorised craft are launched ensure, the activity does not detract from the amenity of any open space/park area that may be nearby as:
vehicles may be tempted to drive through a park to launch watercraft.
safety at facilities such as playgrounds could be compromised by vehicle movements.
When positioning recreational watercraft launching facilities (and totally separated sites are not possible), the second preferred design layout, is co-located facilities:
Non-motorised (human powered) facilities and trailer launched watercraft ramps have distinct facilities but operate side by side, at one location.
When designing co-located recreational watercraft facilities, consider the following:
Where facilities are co-located (side by side), provide maximum separation. See Figure 9:Typical co-located (side by side) watercraft facilities.
Install the following to delineate trailer launched and non-motorised watercraft areas:
Signs clearly designating different activity areas. Where rigging/de-rigging/unloading areas are shared between motorised and non-motorised activities, include signage that specifies both activity users can use this space, so there is not preference for either.
Line marking and signage clearly designating preparation areas such as rigging/de-rigging/unloading and other short-term activity areas such as wash down sites.
Install all required regulatory and information Transport and Main Roads boat ramp signage such as ‘Public Boat Ramp’ , ‘Load Limit’ and ‘Overhead Wires’ (where required).
Locate signs where they could reasonably be expected to be visible to ramp users.
For water installed signage such as buoys use environmentally friendly moorings, not block and tackle moorings which rip out seagrass beds.
To minimise impacts on sensitive shoreline environments, construct well defined and safe pedestrian pathway connections from car parking to launch areas.
Provide clearly defined portage pathways and canoe launch (put-in) areas to discourage craft from being launched, retrieved or beached other than at designated areas. Establish a designated launching site to protect coastal and river environments from erosion.
Connecting pathways are required for canoe and kayak transfer by people living nearby who use hand powered trolleys to access launching sites.
Locate all associated embellishments such as car parking as close as possible to watercraft facilities.
Where space is available, provide a vehicle queueing area beside/near to the boat ramp and in addition to the preparation areas.
Provide a queueing beach beside the boat ramp, to allow temporary boat parking prior to access of the ramp. A queueing beach allows for watercraft to temporarily anchor on the beach (beside the ramp), to allow users to park / retrieve their vehicle and trailer.
Queuing beach to be separate from the non-motorised beach access point where possible.
Co-locate non-motorised and trailer launched watercraft facilities side by side at one location.
Combination watercraft facilities provide an opportunity for the shared use of associated embellishments.
Non-motorised and trailer launched facilities are to have clearly identified, separated activity areas. Provide maximum possible separation to avoid conflict of use.
Long term car parking may be shared
Short term car parking provides for specific activities associated with the type of watercraft, such as a rigging/de-rigging area for yachts and motor boats.
A connection pathway provides safe pedestrian movement and minimises pedestrian and vehicle conflicts.
See Figure 9: Typical co-located (side by side) watercraft facilities.
Figure 9: Typical co-located (side by side) watercraft facilities
Pontoons must be constructed to allow for maximum tidal changes so they do not present dangerous access options.
A registered professional engineer Queensland (RPEQ) is required to provide specifications for tidal structure to ensure the design incorporates maximum tidal changes.
To calculate design HAT and LAT refer to Queensland Tide Tables (current edition).
See Table 4: Clearances for further guidance.
Table 4: Clearances
Embellishment
Distance from
Minimum distance
Reason
Boat ramp head
highest astronomical tide (HAT)
+0.5 m
The facility is usable across the full tidal range.
stairs
as close as possible
Install stairs in adjacent seawall for pedestrian water access.
Boat ramp toe
lowest astronomical tide (LAT)
-0.5 m
The facility is usable across the full tidal range.
Boat ramp
clear area to any other land based embellishment
2.5 m
For deck mower clearance (where possible).
Avoid creating small, difficult to mow areas.
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Sunshine Coast Open Space Landscape Infrastructure Manual (LIM) DISCLAIMER
Disclaimer
Information contained in this document may change without notice and you should use the current material available from Council’s website and not rely on material previously printed or stored by you.
All figures and diagrams are intended to be used as an aid to design and include Council’s preferred elements but they are not intended to be prescriptive and may need to be varied as dictated by site specific factors. While Council has exercised reasonable care in preparing this document, it does not warrant or represent that it is accurate or complete. The Council will not accept responsibility for any loss, damage, cost or expense that you may incur as a result of the use of or reliance upon any material contained in this document.
This document is produced to convey general information and is not intended to constitute advice whether professional or legal. Any reference to legislation in this document is not an interpretation of the law. It is to be used as a guide only. Consult relevant authority websites for current documents, revisions and amendments.
Where a particular product or supplier is profiled in this document, Council is NOT nominating this product or supplier as the selected choice. Product/supplier information has been provided to allow users to source products which contain the correct elements required for Council embellishments. Each product profiled states ‘or equivalent’ which means that different products may be supplied provided they satisfy the identified performance criteria, recommended standards, equal access guidance and product specifications.
Product design, manufacture and installation requires appropriately qualified people to provide site specific solutions to ensure the embellishment is appropriately adapted to local conditions and data.
This document does not override requirements stipulated in a development approval. Project specific variations may be appropriate as a result of site, environmental or other constraints. Any variations to these standards must be approved in writing by council prior to commencement of variation works. Components of this document may be used within a contract document but users should undertake their own investigations to confirm the information is suitable for this purpose.
Drawings contained in this document are NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.
Details in this document are deemed to be the minimum standard and the user may wish to apply a higher standard subject to approval by council.
Acknowledgements
Council wishes to thank all contributors and stakeholders involved in the development of this document.
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