Boat ramp boost across Geelong region

Boat ramps are a great place to take the family for a fish. The kids can clean their catches there as well © Boat Accessories Australia

The Andrews Labor Government is making it easier for boaters to enjoy a day out on the water with upgrades at three popular boat ramps across the Geelong region.

Minister for Outdoor Recreation Sonya Kilkenny today announced that contractors will soon be appointed for construction at Kirk Point, Limeburners Point and Avalon boat ramps, with the trio of projects sharing in $8 million of investment through the Labor Government's Better Boating Fund.

The $4 million project at Kirk Point will upgrade the ramp to a two-lane facility, creating additional car and trailer parking. A new breakwall will also provide greater protection for boaters launching and retrieving at the exposed ramp.

Construction is expected to begin next month and has been timed to occur outside of the peak boating season and to limit the potential impact on migratory birds in and around the nearby wetlands. The project will be managed by Parks Victoria and is expected to be complete in late 2023.

The $2.5 million project at Geelong's bustling Limeburners boat ramp will create more than 50 new car and trailer parks for locals and visitors - more than doubling the ramp's current capacity.

This project will improve safety and accessibility by formalising existing overflow parking areas, improving traffic flow and installing permeable pavers to manage stormwater runoff. This investment will also ensure fish cleaning facilities are maintained and will see storage for the local Outrigger Canoe Club relocated closer to the water.

Longer jetties and more than 25 new parking spaces will be built at Avalon while at Kirk Point, a second ramp lane and breakwall will provide greater protection for boaters launching and retrieving at the exposed ramp. Work is due to begin at both facilities in coming months.

On the northern side of Corio Bay, the two-lane Avalon boat ramp will receive $1.5 million in funding to build 25 new parking spaces, with further upgrades to the jetties also being considered

Construction on all three projects is expected to begin in May.

These upgrades were identified as a priority as part of the 2022-23 Victorian Recreational Boating Action Plan, with the distribution of boaters' registration and licence fees funding the project through the Government's Better Boating Fund.

Quotes

Minister for Outdoor Recreation Sonya Kilkenny: "These fantastic upgrades at some of the busiest ramps in the Geelong area will make boating easier and more accessible for locals and visitors to enjoy - demonstrating how we are reinvesting licence and registration fees into projects that make boating even better."

Member for Lara Ella George: "These projects mean more parking and better jetties at Avalon boat ramp and greater protection from waves at Kirk Point, making it easier for locals to hit the water on Port Phillip or Corio Bay with friends and family."

Member for Geelong Christine Couzens: "Geelong has one of the highest rates of boat ownership in the state, so having modern, functional boating facilities is crucial to ensuring everyone can enjoy a day on the water."