Stage 1 works completed at Bellarine boat ramps

THE first stage of priority upgrade works at a pair of boat ramps on the Bellarine Peninsula are complete, making it easier for boaters to get out on the water.

Point Richards and Queenscliff boat ramps were identified as priority projects as part of the state government’s $47.2 million investment in making recreational boating cheaper and more accessible.

The Point Richards ramp, located at Portarlington, now has 83 car and trailer spaces – an extra 50 formalised parking spots.

There are also 14 car-only spaces, and a roundabout has been added to improve traffic flow near the ramp.

The next stage of works at Point Richards will include marine-side work to minimise the impact of seagrass build-up, including the construction of a rock groyne on the western side of the ramp.

At Queenscliff, more parking has been added by the construction of a new formal parking area next to the main carpark and dredging at the ramp has been undertaken to make access easier at all tides.

The installation of a second Boating Vic camera at Queenscliff will also allow boaters to assess conditions via the Boating Vic app or website in the new overflow carpark and at the ramp before leaving home.

The second phase of works – to be managed by the Borough of Queenscliffe – will include the construction of a third boat ramp lane, a central floating pontoon, lengthening existing pontoons and additional works to the main carpark to manage the movement of traffic near the ramp.

Stage two works at both sites will start early this year, following the peak boating season.

“Boating is extremely important to locals and holidaymakers on the Bellarine, and these upgrades will make it easier for people to get out on the water,” Bellarine MP Lisa Neville said.

Minister for Fishing and Boating Melissa Horne said the Bellarine had one of the highest rates of boat ownership in Victoria, so the state government was investing in popular launching spots such as Point Richards and Queenscliff to ensure boaters had access to the best facilities now and for years to come.

“These upgrades are not only a win for boaters but also the local businesses that benefit from tourists visiting the Bellarine for a day on the water.”

The Andrews Government is also investing more than $33 million into the Better Boating Fund to make recreational boating cheaper and more accessible for Victorians to enjoy – a promise made at the 2018 election to ensure all money from licence fees and recreational vessel registration goes towards improving boating infrastructure and programs.

The Department of Transport and Better Boating Victoria is managing the fund’s distribution, having already made it free to park and launch at Victorian boat ramps, and is carrying out the most significant boat ramp construction program in the state’s history.