Boat Launch Costs to Increase From $25 to $30 at Bluff Ramp

Invercargill City Council is proposing to increase fees at Bluff Boat Ramp, with casual launch costs rising from $25 to $30 per use.

Annual permits would also go up under the proposal, costing $155 per year for boats under 6 metres and $215 for larger vessels.

Bluff Community Board Chair Ray Fife said the fee increases align with the original vision for the facility to be financially sustainable through user charges.

"All funds collected in fees go back into maintaining the facility, including the clearing of silt and rocks off the ramps, structural repairs and ongoing improvements," he said.

The proposed changes would introduce annual permits for commercial vessels and offer a 60% discount for clubs, making the ramp more accessible to local community groups.

Fife said the various pricing options meant boaties could find the best value while still contributing fairly to maintenance costs.

"An annual permit essentially gets cheaper the more you use it. For a 6-metre boat, if you go out every week, it works out to just over $4 per launch."

Compliance fees for non-payment would also increase under the proposal. Casual users who fail to pay would face a $110 fine, up from $100, while commercial users would be hit with a $760 penalty instead of the current $690.

"The facility is there for the whole community. Most boaties do the right thing, but we need to have mechanisms in place to ensure everyone who uses the ramp is contributing to its upkeep," Fife said.

The council took ownership of the boat ramp in 2019 and upgraded the facility as part of its 2021-2031 Long-term Plan. Fees were first introduced last year.

Public consultation on the proposed fee changes opened on 25 March and closes on 24 April. Submissions can be made online at letstalk.icc.govt.nz or in person at the Bluff Service Centre, Splash Palace, Civic Building or Invercargill Public Library.

The boat ramp serves the wider Southland boating community, providing access to Foveaux Strait and surrounding waters.