A MUDDY ramp near the Tooleybuc Bridge has restricted river access for boat users.
The ramp has become inaccessible due to the build-up of mud that has yet to be cleaned out since river levels have dropped last month.
Local boat owner Grant Fraser said he hasn’t been able to use his boat for the last six to eight weeks.
“When you get to the end to the boat ramp where the concrete finishes, there is mud for about 15-20 metres and then there is the river,” Mr Fraser said.
“It’s completely filled up with mud and is a mess.”
“It’s still the same as it was last month. It should have been cleaned out.”
Murray River Council’s Director of Infrastructure Jack Bond said that Transport for NSW is supposed to oversee the ramp.
“The boat ramp isn’t technically owned by council. It’s owned by Transport for NSW,” Mr Bond said.
Transport for NSW purchased land near Tooleybuc Bridge for the realignment of the bridge four years ago.
“This all goes back to the Tooleybuc Bridge,” Mr Bond said.
“The council and community have been advocating for a new bridge, or an upgrade to the bridge, since it’s a critical piece infrastructure for the town and is the main corridor from Adelaide to Sydney.”
However, plans for a new bridge are on hold and the bridge was retained but has undergone maintenance works since.
Mr Fraser said that the neglect of the mud built-up near the ramp might be affecting tourists staying at the caravan park by the river.
“It doesn’t do much for tourism if they turn up with a boat and they can’t use it,” he said.
“Anyone who hired those cabins and wanted to use their boat for fishing in the river would probably not be impressed.”
“And it’s just coming up to Easter, and there’s probably a lot of people around the district that might want to use the ramp.”
