Pilbara Ports locks Spoilbank Marina boat ramp gates after repeat out-of-hours breaches

The newly minted Spoilbank Marina boat ramp will now be behind lock and key between 6pm and 6am, a decision by Pilbara Ports after multiple breaches of the facility out of access hours.

Officially opened on January 20, the boat ramp forms part of the $187.5m redevelopment of the Port Hedland foreshore, with the surrounding marina expected to open in late 2024.

Initially open between the hours of 6am and 6pm daily, Pilbara Ports took to Facebook on February 22 to inform users the site would now be locked outside of hours, due to multiple out-of-hours uses of the ramp.

“Due to repeated breaches by a small minority of the community, we will be installing locks at the boat ramp to prevent access out of hours,” the statement said.

“The Spoilbank Marina has strict environmental conditions with protocols that must be adhered to.

“These protocols include a temporary 6am to 6pm restriction on the opening hours of the boat ramp.”

The opening hours of the new boat ramp are expected to be permanently increased to 24 hours a day in the coming months, with boaties asked to use the older Richardson Street ramp in the meantime.