Last Saturday 5 April 2025 was the official opening of the two new boat ramps on the foreshore of Steyne Park, Double Bay. The event was hosted by Rodney Barnes, Vice Commodore at Double Bay Sailing Club, and welcomed guests:
Kelly Sloane (NSW Member for Vaucluse)
Mary-Lou Jarvis (representing WMC)
Dimitri Mitsidis (representing TfNSW)
Warren Sare (CEO) and Simon Nearn (Commodore) of the 18 Footers League
Many will recall the dilapidated state of the old ramps before work commenced in June 2024, with the western ramp being so much of a hazard that it was not in use. The new ramps project was completed in October 2024, five years after its inception by a dedicated team of volunteers from DBSC which included fearless leaders, lawyers, architects, engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors, and construction managers; and involved grant applications, development applications and many contractual and deed negotiations.
Rod recalled some of the history of the project, where in 2019 the ambitious Commodore at the time Andrew Cox and Vice-Commodore Mark Crowhurst thought it was time to do something about the state of the old ramps. They saw an opportunity for funding and applied for a grant with the intention for DBSC to manage the project. It was Round 3 of the NSW Government’s Boating Now Program, who provided grant funding for maritime infrastructure and facilities needed across NSW for safe, accessible and enjoyable recreational and commercial boating.
By late July 2020 we received notification the grant application was successful. To make the project viable, additional funding was provided from Woollahra Council, the 18 Footers League and DBSC. The team of Emily Ball, John Chesterman and Andrew Simpson (all sailors from DBSC) got together and appointed various consultants and engineers to get the DA submitted and approved by late 2021. Then a project delivery model and legalities had to be sorted out.
In 2022 Rodney Barnes became project manager, and between early 2022 to March 2024, Andrew Cox and Michael Osbourne negotiated with council and TfNSW to finalise various deeds and licenses. We would especially like to thank Michael who continued to provide many hours of detailed support and legal skills, even after he had stopped sailing.
During the same period, quotes were received but came back over budget, as inflation increased costs, and additional funding was sought and approved by TfNSW. The preferred builder was selected: Pat Collins from IPM Group. During negotiations with Council to sort out the deeds, I think we told Pat on at least 10 occasions that the start of construction was imminent. Construction finally commenced June 2024 and was completed in October 2024. Thank you to Pat for sticking with us through this drawn-out period. The ramps were difficult for Pat to build because of a tidal anomaly last year, where the low tides we not low enough very often, and so it was a constant battle against the incoming tide and waves during the concrete pours.
After the initial variations were approved, the project was bang on budget, and with countless hours of the volunteer spirit which embodies all that we do at Double Bay Sailing Club this community project was brought to completion.
From DBSC Thank you:
Andrew Cox (former Commodore and project lead),
Mark Crowhurst (former Vice Commodore and grants expert),
Emily Ball (project manager),
Justin Davey (treasury coordination),
John Chesterman (concept architect),
Andrew Simpson (structural engineering review)
Geoff Kirk (construction input),
Michael Osborne (legal guru),
Yves Stenning (grants input),
Steven London (current Commodore and partner liaison).
Thank you to our friends at NSW Government, Transport for NSW, Woollahra Municipal Council, The 18 Footers League & Members of DBSC who have contributed funds and resourcing for the project and without their generosity, the project would not be possible.
From Woollahra Council Thank you:
Anthony Sheedy and Yasas De Silva
From Transport for NSW Thank you:
Dimitri Mitsidis and Gareth Doran
From the 18 Footers League Thank you:
Warren Sare (CEO) and Simon Nearn (Commodore)
