A RUSSELL Island resident says the emergency response to the devastating fires at Mallacoota in east Victoria shows the need for a boat ramp on the south-west side of Russell Island.
Residents have long been pushing for a boat ramp at Rocky Point to provide another way of exiting the island in an emergency.
Resident and petitioner Margaret Kemp said rescue boats were unable to land at Rocky Point without a ramp.
"If a wild fire from the centre or east of Russell Island were spreading west, residents cannot self-evacuate," she said.
"There is not one emergency escape boat ramp on the western side of Russell Island."
More than 1000 people signed a petition pushing for the boat ramp, which Ms Kemp said could also reduce reliance on emergency services by providing residents with timely self-evacuation if the island's central road was blocked.
A Redland City Council spokesperson said council had in 2018 referred a petition requesting a ramp to the state government, which was responsible for building boat ramps.
A Transport Department feasibility study into a potential ramp concluded the area was not suitable due in part to its rocky seabed.
"Also, the state government's Fire Management Review Report made no recommendation for a southern ramp on the island," the council spokesperson said.
"It instead recommended fire trails linking the south of the island with the north.
"Given these conclusions and that there are currently no state government plans to construct a boat ramp at Rocky Point, council has been focussing on land-based evacuation options, including recently hardening Lagoon Road to create a new evacuation route from Rocky Point.
"Lagoon Road and Stradbroke Drive both connect Rocky Point with Centre Road, allowing transport to Sandy Beach, which has been found suitable for safe evacuation."
In a letter to Ms Kemp, a spokesperson for Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the site was potentially suitable for a jetty but its use would be limited to times when strong winds were not blowing from the north-west, west or south-west.
Ms Kemp said the feasibility study had focussed on a barge about 37 metres long, rather than a boat ramp which could accommodate a range of different water craft.
"There are many other emergency water craft with suitable draft including barges in use on Coochiemudlo Island landing with a similar approach and depth to that of Rocky Point," she said.
"Classifying Rocky Point unsuitable as a boat ramp could potentially be endangering the Russell Island community, even more so if Russell Island were cut from the northern exits by wild fire as experienced in 2017."
Redlands MP Kim Richards said alternative sites were being investigated.
"The study noted a recreational ramp could be considered for the Rocky Point site," Ms Richards said.
"Redland City Council have been advised of this possibility and the state governments program to co-fund projects of this nature should council desire to undertake such project."
