Grants available to improve Victorian boat ramps

THE Victorian government is investing $1 million from the Better Boating Fund into improving Victorian boating facilities through the 2025–26 Recreational Boating Dredging and Access Program and Recreational Boating Structural Maintenance Program.

If you have an idea that would make your local ramp more user friendly or think your local ramp needs to be dredged to make it easier to launch, now is the time to reach out to your local boating facility manager – as only eligible organisations can apply for the programs.

Eligible organisations consist of local councils, committees of management, catchment management authorities, water corporations and state government bodies.

You can get in contact your boat ramp facility manager, share your suggestion and let them know there’s funding available.

You can find the facility manager at your favourite ramp by using the Maritime Safety Victoria’s Boating Vic website. When viewing your chosen ramp, it lists the facility manager under further information.

Recreational Boating Dredging and Access Program

The 2025–26 Recreational Boating Dredging and Access Program is now open and aims to support boat ramp asset managers to dredge boating facilities to ensure safe navigable access.

Grants of up to $110,000 will support ramp asset managers to dredge existing facilities. A total of $500,000 in funding is available.

Projects may include dredging work to improve access at boat ramps or via channels, pre-dredging surveys and long-to-medium-term planning to address ongoing dredging needs.

Recreational Boating Structural Maintenance Program

The Recreational Boating Structural Maintenance Program allows boat ramp managers to undertake significant structural maintenance at publicly accessible boating facilities.

Would installing a floating pontoon make your local ramp more user friendly? Or would a new ramp surface make it easier to launch?

If you have a suggestion to share, you can get in contact your boat ramp facility manager and let them know there’s funding now available.

Grants of up to $110,000 will support ramp asset managers to repair and maintain facilities so that boat ramps remain functional and safe for users. A total of $500,000 in funding is available.

Eligible projects may include repairing boat ramp surfaces, jetties or pontoons, minor works to break wall structures and maintenance of other boating infrastructure, such as car-trailer parking areas and aids to navigation infrastructure.

This funding will allow eligible organisations to ensure public boating facilities remain accessible and safe for Victorians launching and retrieving their vessels.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday 12 June.

If you see or suspect any illegal fishing in Victoria, call the 24/7 reporting service, 13FISH (133474), to speak directly to a fisheries officer. You can remain anonymous.

FISHING REPORTS

Anglesea

* A few boats out chasing barrel tuna, with reports of some nice fish being caught

Reports courtesy of the Rusty Anglers Angling Club Anglesea

Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove

No reports this week.

Lorne

Access is still not available to the pier or boat channel due to the reconstruction works going on.

* There have been a few boats coming through from Anglesea and Apollo Bay. They’ve been catching plenty of flathead, pinkies, gummies and the odd nannygai.

* There is also a lot of rock fishing being done with reports of salmon, snapper, gummies and the odd King George whiting being landed.