Boost for Vic boating

Minister for Ports David Hodgett has announced over $6 million worth of projects for the annual Boating Safety and Facilities Program, which he says will improve safety and accessibility on Victoria's waterways.

Mr Hodgett said that in this year's budget, the program was increased to a record level of funding.

"I'm proud to say that over the past four years the Victorian Coalition Government has invested over $40 million in around 250 recreational boating projects to address safety and improve accessibility across the state's waterways.

"This year's package of projects includes over 50 grants for local councils and waterway managers in the areas of boating infrastructure and planning, search and rescue and aids to navigation.

"In addition, there is funding for four shovel-ready projects identified by the recreational boating working group which formed this year to help address issues facing the sector.

"Through initiatives like the Boating Safety and Facilities Program and the recreational boating working group, the Napthine Government is working with industry to promote recreational boating and support a broad range of projects that will make a real difference to local boating communities," Mr Hodgett said.

Grants through the 2014-15 round of projects include:
>> $236,000 for reconstruction of the Half Moon Bay catwalk at Black Rock which was damaged in a recent storm
>> $393,000 for the North Road jetty reconstruction at Brighton; and
>> $365,000 for improvements to the Mornington boat ramp car park configuration.

Mr Hodgett said there is also $50,000 being provided to the Boating Industry Association Victoria (BIAV) to develop a business case to test the feasibility of developing smart phone technology to help recreational boaters see how busy boat ramps are and plan their trips accordingly.

"The $50,000 grant to BIAV for the development of a webcams business case will enable innovative planning to investigate the development of smart phone technology that would be linked to webcams at some of Victoria's busiest boat ramps," Mr Hodgett said.

"The technology would enable recreational boaters to see how busy boat ramps are and enable them to plan for their boating trips more easily instead of waiting in long queues during the peak boating season.

Mr Hodgett said the latest round of projects will add to a long list of already completed projects under the initiative.

"The program has helped to deliver safety improvements to key waterways across the state including the construction of a new Portland boat ramp, new trailer parking at the Altona boat ramp and improvements to recreational boating access at St Kilda pier," Mr Hodgett said.

For more information about the Boating Safety and Facilities Program, contact the Grants Administration Team on 1800 337 222, email boating.grants@dtpli.vic.gov.au or visit www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/grants