Upgrades to ramp up at St Leonards

MORE local boaters will be able to get out on the water with further boating facility upgrades being planned on the Bellarine Peninsula.

Bellarine MP Alison Marchant recently announced the latest round of the Better Boating Fund will be used to plan and design new upgrades at the St Leonards Boat Ramp.

Plans will be drawn up for future upgrades of the ramp, in conjunction with asset managers, local boaters and other user groups.

“The start of detailed design planning for stage two of upgrades at St Leonards Boat Ramp is a significant step, and we look forward to working with the local boating community to get their input through the process,” Ms Marchant said.

Stage one of construction at St Leonards included a complete rebuild of the jetty, an expanded T-section, a new non-slip deck, additional rubber fenders, cleats to tie ropes to and solar lighting.

A new accessible gangway and lower landing on the northern side has also been built, while new stairs lead to another lower landing on the opposite side of the structure.

The Better Boating Fund reinvests boating license and registration fee back into boating projects and programs.

Since 2021 nearly $140 million has been returned to recreational boating including more than 50 ramp upgrades such as St Leonards, Lake Bullen Merri, Clifton Springs and Inverloch.

Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos said the upgrades would benefit local economies, reeling in more visitors to the regions.

“We know Victorians cherish time spent on the water. Having user-friendly facilities, better access through dredging and convenient locations to launch helps to create an even better boating experience.”