Victoria’s recreational boating strategy framework released
Forward-looking study identifies the pain points affecting Victorian boaters and jet skiersThe Victorian Government has released the framework for its 10-year vision to improve recreational boating in the state, including a need to focus on rebuilding ageing infrastructure and encourage more people to get out on the water.
The Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy 2021-2030 report, released today, identifies a number of current challenges that will need to be addressed to make recreational boating – an industry worth an estimated $8 billion to the state’s economy – better for all users.
These include a lack of trailer parking spaces, ensuring marine rescue services were adequately resourced, and poor waterway management.
The report shows that more than 417,000 Victorians hold a recreational boat licence – more than half as many again hold a jet ski endorsement – with almost 10,000 new licences issued each year. One in 10 people – around 696,000 – will also take part in recreational boating each year, it shows, with participation growing at around 2.5 per cent a year.
Constrained capacity
Of the 400 boating facilities in the state, the report identifies that most of the activity is concentrated at 20 key locations including Port Phillip Bay, Western Port, the Gippsland Lakes district, the Murray River and Lake Eildon.
A number of these sites also suffer from what the survey says is constrained capacity due to land-side congestion and a lack of parking spaces.
Also putting pressure on resources is an increase in the size of boats hitting the state’s waterways, with a significant shift towards owning boats that are larger than 4.0 metres in length.
According to the strategy, the following objectives should become a priority for the almost $33 million collected in recreational boat-related revenue each year through licence fees and registrations:
- To enhance the Victorian boating experience by supporting and improving the maintenance of our public facilities
- To enhance the Victorian boating experience by continuing to invest in renewing and building new boating facilities
- To enhance the Victorian boating experience by continuing to invest in destination locations
- To enhance the Victorian boating experience by providing for improved access and navigation
- To improve waterway and boating safety by investing in marine search and rescue and boating safety and education
- To enhance the Victorian boating experience by promoting boating across Victoria
- To improve the quality of the data and implement other reforms that will improve the boating experience
The Victorian government will use the strategy to create an annual action plan to map out where the future years of revenue will be spent.
Projects identified
Among projects earmarked for funding is more than $1 million in upgrades at Rocklands Reservoir and Lonsdale and Toolondo in the state's west.
BBV has also earmarked $400,000 for a new pontoon at Barrier Landing on the Gippsland Lakes, $250,000 for pontoon upgrades at Ocean Grove, $250,000 to upgrade Lake Buffalo boat ramp in the north-east and cameras showing the boat ramp and car park at Lake Eppalock.
Another idea to come out of the survey is how to handle boats that have reached the end of their useful life. The report says the state will “investigate options for boat recycling and disposal services across Victoria”.
Better Boating Victoria, which will manage the funds for the program, announced today that an extra 13 fisheries officers had been employed to enforce the rules around fishing, as well as educate anglers about responsible fishing, catch limits and permitted equipment.
It means the state now has 70 fisheries officers.
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