A Darlington Point resident has slammed Murrumbidgee Council's decision to install a second boat ramp on the Murrumbidgee River, stating it will cause environmental damage to the river.
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The proposal, which was approved by the council in July, will see a boat ramp installed up stream on the opposite side of the river from the current boat ramp, along with the construction of a floating pontoon and parking spaces next to the current levee bank which runs along the river.
Peter van Hees, who lives next to the proposed site, said his primary concern is the potential environmental damage to the area.
"As it [the water] goes around the concrete thing it will eddy and swirl," Mr van Hees said.
"That will undermine I think, the work they have done on the levee bank."
Mr van Hees said he sent his concerns regarding the ramp to council twice, receiving a response once after the council approved the development application.
The response from council stated while a consultant report recommended the application be refused, all matters mandated by law were covered and council was within their discretion to approve the application.
Murrumbidgee Council general manager John Scarce said the proposed location was recommended by the report.
"The report that was done... they went and assessed a number of locations," Mr Scarce said.
"We've got to make decisions for everybody, not just a couple."
Mr Scarce said council has taken steps to ensure the infrastructure will be as safe and environmentally sound as possible, with the application subject to 60 conditions recommended by the report.
"There is no initial concern," he said.
"[We will] build it in a way so it's as safe as it possibly can be in a fast flowing river," he said.
However, Mr van Hees remains unconvinced, stating the potential costs of any management regarding the ramp will likely be passed onto the ratepayers.
"Who's gonna bear the cost of all the scouring and the environment?" he said.
"Who's gonna bear the cost when the levee bank gets damaged?"
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Mr van Hees proposed the money spent on the ramp could be better used to service the community, suggesting the council attempt to fix up the existing boat ramp to allow for a wider range of access.
The construction of a new boat ramp has been in the works since 2016.
