Point Richards boat ramp upgrade gets underway

BOATERS and anglers on the Bellarine can look forward to a better boat ramp at Point Richards as plans to upgrade the facility begin.
Point Richards is one of six ramps the Andrews Labor Government will upgrade in Port Phillip and Western Port.
Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville said Water Technology had been commissioned to undertake a coastal processes study that would inform a design to improve the facility.
Ms Neville said Water Technology was a specialist coastal and environmental consultancy who had conducted similar projects within Port Phillip.
She said their study at Point Richards was the first step towards minimising the impacts of seaweed and sand build up that currently affected the ramp.
“With the Point Richards upgrade underway and the recent removal of fees at Queenscliff, it’s all good news for boaters and fishers on the Bellarine,” Ms Neville said.
“We said we’d upgrade the Point Richards and Queenscliff boat ramps, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
The study will be completed by the end of the year and will be used to develop concept designs for a better facility that will reduce the number of closures at the ramp.
The Labor Government has also appointed Thompson Berrill Landscape Design to investigate options and prepare a concept design for more boat-trailer parking at the ramp.
Boaters and fishers will get an opportunity to have their say about the Point Richards boat ramp upgrade and give feedback to the concept design options that will be presented to the public later in the year.
This upgrade is part of the Government’s $47.2 million work to remove fees at all public boat ramps, upgrade six priority boats ramps and review boating infrastructure management arrangements in Port Phillip and Western Port.
Better Boating Victoria will work closely with Bellarine and Bayside Committee of Management and other key stakeholders during the Point Richards boat ramp upgrade.