TO TONY Sellers, Dingo Beach is the perfect location for taking the boat out for a day of fishing or exploring the islands - but there's just one problem.

When the popular tourist area gets busy, the boat ramp, which allows for only one boat to enter or exit the water at a time, can make a day out a little tricky which is why Mr Sellers wants the ramp upgraded.

Last Wednesday, Mr Sellers, who owns the Dingo Beach Pub, submitted a petition to the Whitsunday Regional Council, asking for an expansion to the current boat ramp and to excavate sand from the shoreline to allow for better water access.

"We would like to duplicate the ramp so you can put in and take out two boats at the same time,” Mr Sellers said.

"Over the long weekends and holidays it gets chaotic here because everyone wants to get their boats in and out.”

Roughly five metres wide, it is estimated the boat ramp would need to be at least 10m wide in order to fit two boats.

Mr Sellers had nearly 700 responses to the petition which he started just over a month ago and said "90 to 95% are in favour”.

Of those in favour is Division 4 Councillor Peter Ramage, which Mr Sellers described as a clear indication of council listening to locals.

"It's clear we have a proactive and supportive council that wants to see things done,” he said.

Excavating the land seems to be the most cost effective option, with Mr Sellers estimating a cost of $100,000.

"The sand can be moved to one side or it can be taken by truck so there's no need for the use of an expensive dredge,” he said.

"It's a low cost, cheap, practical solution to solve the issue that's current.”

Dingo Beach has the only boat ramp between Bowen and Airlie Beach and Mr Sellers said at low tides, this was a cause for concern in the case of an emergency due to tide restrictions.

"There's been a number of times when we've had to send boats out here to rescue people but at real low tide we aren't able to do that,” he said.

"We've had to go and recover people, there's been people fall off boats, boats have sunk, there's been SOS calls from yachts and other boats and people have gone and assisted them.

"At the moment, the only other access is from Airlie Beach or Bowen and that's a long way - time is important when people are in distress.”

That's exactly why Mr Sellers believes excavating an area one metre deep and six metres wide would make the channel deep enough for boats to be launched and retrieved at any time of day.

Locals are also asking maritime authorities for proper markings, which can be seen clearly at night time, to be placed in the water so a clear path is evident at all times when entering and exiting.

Having lived in the area for 30 years, Mr Sellers knows how popular it is for tourists.

He said a widened boat ramp would only make the area more attractive.

"Tourism is the saviour for the Whitsundays and we need to help and encourage tourism,” he said.

"Tourism is our number one economic contributor.”