Parking, pier to be added to boat site

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has purchased property adjacent to its Sunset Harbor Boating Access Area in Brunswick County to ensure that the public has adequate parking at the site for years to come.

The purchase -- the first from the N.C. Waterfront Access and Marine Industry (WAMI) Fund -- will also enable the commission to focus its resources on much-needed renovations to the existing boat ramp on the Intracoastal Waterway. The WAMI funds will also provide funding to develop a small public fishing pier, said Gordon Myers, deputy director, in a commission release.

"This $915,000 grant, made possible through the leadership of the General Assembly, is allowing us to protect waterfront land and preserve it for public use," Myers said. "In addition, thanks to this collaboration with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, which administers the fund, we'll be able to make significant improvements, expand the uses of this property and ensure continued access to our state's public waters."

Boaters using the Sunset Harbor Boating Access Area had previously parked on property leased to a private fishing club. However, when the property owner decided to sell it, the commission worried that a private buyer would forbid public parking -- and quickly purchased the property with WAMI funding to make it part of the commission's free boating access area.

Adding the parking area into state ownership makes it much more desirable to overhaul the access area. The renovation plans include new launch ramps, docks, dredging and development of a small fishing pier. The renovations will also apply low-impact design strategies to manage storm water.