The plan, to be presented to Council this month, is to have regimented parking bays for use by cars and trailers, similar to those at the Rowland Reserve. The plan creates 38 car and trailer parking spaces and 53 car only spaces.

Charges will be $8 for the first four hours and then $1 an hour up to a maximum of $28 for a day.

Council's parking stickers will not be valid in the area. Commercial vehicles would be banned from using the ramp. Parking will be limited to one day.

Annual parking stickers, similar to those used at Rowland Reserve at a cost of $151 a year, are unlikely to be issued for Woorak Reserve.

One of the major users or the ramp, the Palm Beach Sailing Club, has generally supported many of the council's plans for the area but has raised some issues in a submission to Council.

The ramp has historically been used by the Catamaran Club (now known as the Palm Beach Sailing Club) but more recently commercial users carrying vehicles as heavy as concrete trucks and garbage trucks have been using it, as have owners of large cruisers that are towed on trailers.

The attraction to these users is the current free parking and the shorter distances to the Western Foreshore communities.

The Sailing Club which includes Australian and world record-holders in its fleet, is concerned that the regulation and charges for parking will impact on its membership unfavourably. The club is currently the largest of its kind in NSW.

It has been told that special arrangements will be made for its major regatta days as well as state, national and international events to have an area of the parking ground available for free. There are also promises, without detail at this stage, of a concession on parking fees for community groups such as the sailing club.

Residents have complained to the council about the growth in use of the ramp, particularly by the larger yachts. However the Palm Beach Sailing Club has noted that only one house next to Sand Point is permanently occupied.

Yachting groups and fishing organisations are arguing that the ramp should be expanded to take more and larger vessels.

Jet ski launching will not be banned.

The Sailing Club has expressed support to repair the edges of the boat ramp but does not support extension of the ramp, noting that the current length is adequate and lengthening it could encourage larger boats.

It has however recommended the removal of bollards alongside the ramp.

"It was originally thought that these were installed in an attempt to stop large boats from using the ramp. The bollards do however stop the small catamarans from being easily moved from the ramp to the beach to rig up. This means that cars are on the ramp for a longer period.”

In its letter to Council, the club has expressed its concern about increasing costs.

“The club is not a wealthy club and a large number of our active members are students. The additional costs involved in parking, albeit concession, will preclude the club from being able to raise its membership fees this year, a move which is long overdue to enable proper maintenance of the rescue facility (the club has a boat available 24 hours a day) due to the current economic climate," it said.

Council has received a grant of $170,000 from the State Government and will have to match this when it approves a plan of management.

The Council is arguing that the ramp has historical use by lighter craft, and should remain. However it is agreed that with the residential development in the area it would not be permitted to-day, and should not be extended.