North Australian FISH FINDER forums

That's a big call that people will spend less time launching their boats at Shady camp when you are proposing to cut the 6 vehicle wide facility to a shonky 1.5 lane ramp.

FFS! When will they listen? Can the half arsed Shady ramp and use the money to fix the half arsed Dundee ramp!

I'm interested in Tristian Sloanes thoughts on the matter. He works for the government now doesn't he? I know he was opposed to the Shady ramp when still in AFANT.

They are committed to building that dog at Shady - hope it doesnt end up like the other dog at Dundee but im pretty sure it will

Would be much better to just put the money to a road further down stream and clear a bank if they can afford it.
Any money spent on shady camp will be a waste. I can't get over they they are going ahead with it, when everyone, well the vast majority that would be using it all apose it.

It's not looking too good that old mate from afant will jump on here. You would think if he was he would have done it for this. It would take all of 5 mins to set up an account.
Maybe he could see the so far 100% negative comments towards this ramp.


As for Dundee, I think the ramp it self it good. Never had a drama with it. I think people should just launch at different times, it's open 24 hrs a day. I have only used it 3 times but it's been great. A bigger car park and a pontoon would be a great investment, for charter blokes and family fisherman alike.
Much better value for money than a ramp that can only be used 1/2 of the time, and will just continue to silt up even more.

Gday Mick
My understanding is that this govt is committed (contracts drawn etc) to the plan done by the previous govt and cant get out of it.
So like Dundee, it will be a cockup. Poorly designed etc etc.
The idea of moving it down further down was raised but it just cant be don’t so we will have to put up with the mess that they have accepted.
There is also a proposal to take over and manage the ramp at Pt stuart. That looks better than the shady proposal to me

Both would b good, Shady and Pt Stuart
They are a fair way appart

Lot of fishing areas in -between, might happen eventually

You've hit the nail on the head there Nomad.

It would be terribly unwise to throw good tax payers money at bad. The current government needs to focus on doing things once and doing it properly. If that can't be done, walk away until it can be. Shady might not be ideal but fishos get by. They will continue to do so until it can be done properly.

i feel that any upgrade of any ramps etc have to be a good thing and can't be worse than before

bring_it_on wrote:i feel that any upgrade of any ramps etc have to be a good thing and can't be worse than before

Buff creek springs to mind. Arguably worse after the upgrade. Dundee falls short but yes, it is probably better than before.
The proposal for Shady is poor. It has potential to make it harder to launch in floods and limits the volume of boats able to launch. There's risk of backing over the side of it. And it also creates an ambush point for crocodiles. On the plus it will be a hard base but there aren't many who get bogged on that ramp.

The proposal for Shady is poor. It has potential to make it harder to launch in floods and limits the volume of boats able to launch. There's risk of backing over the side of it. And it also creates an ambush point for crocodiles. On the plus it will be a hard base but there aren't many who get bogged on that ramp.

Says it all really, pay all that money for a worse situation, and imagine if someone was taken by a croc, with this thread as forewarning ...

So why can't the government just can it? Some sort of legal issues I suppose. Sh!t, I'd rather see them cancel it and pay some form of compensation to the contractors than continue down the path we're on. Beaurocracy gone mad! ( or gone normal maybe.....)


P.S: For what it's worth, I like it how it is. Part of the adventure and the Southerners get a kick out of the mad Territorians wading around in croc infested waters!(or poop their pants!).

scottmac wrote:So why can't the government just can it? Some sort of legal issues I suppose. .

I think it will cost just as much to can it and compensate the contractor. the problem there is that you end up with nothing and the contractor gets his $
unfortunately this govt have inherited the cockup

I did remind the govt reps that there have been many ramps built all over the world so there was no need to reinvent the wheel. Surely they could adapt other proven designs to work here.
so from now on, im sure they will do it right.

I'm sure it wouldn't cost too much to relocate it and slightly change the plans.
Contractor still gets his job.
Shady camp not screwed.
I'm with Scottmac it's part of the magic and experience of shady.
How did it get this far. Afant dropped the ball with this one I think.
The money would have been far better spent providing some sort of security at remps. To me that is a much greater risk than a 2wd getting bogged at shady. I have never had an issue launching there, or retreving. Have launched when it's in the car park, and launched when you are rubbing the hull on mud for the first few kms.If they had this ramp in place now than shady would be un usable. There's big gutters forming where the water is running around the barage. The start off the ramp would be near under water. There would be no dirt left around the concrete.
Madness.