Boat ramp managers can share in up to $3 million worth of grants to provide recreational boaters with improved facilities and access as the Andrews Labor Government’s Recreational Boating Grants Programs enter their second year.

Minister for Outdoor Recreation Sonya Kilkenny visited the recently upgraded Ocean Grove boat ramp to announce applications are now open for the Structural Maintenance Grants and Dredging and Access Grants programs, both funded through reinvesting boaters’ registration and licence fees as part of the Government’s Better Boating Fund.

The grants will be overseen by Better Boating Victoria, which is progressing the state’s biggest ever boat ramp construction program and continuing to ensure launching and parking is free at all public ramps in the state.

Up to $2 million will again be made available for ramp managers to repair or replace pontoons, resurface ramps or upgrade gangways through Structural Maintenance Grants. The maximum grant amount available is $300,000.

Last year $1.7m was awarded to 13 projects from across Victoria including refurbishing the northern pontoon at Ocean Grove, resurfacing the ramp at Lake Fyans, building a new concrete ramp at Rocky Valley Dam near Falls Creek and undertaking repairs to facilities at Rye, Tooradin and Marlo.

Meanwhile, up to $1 million is on offer through the Dredging and Access Grants to allow ramp and waterway managers to plan and undertake dredging works, with a maximum grant amount of $150,000.

In 2021-22, a combined total of nearly $700,000 was awarded to ten dredging projects throughout Victoria, from the Gippsland Lakes to Lake Fyans in the state’s west. Other projects included dredging at Tootgarook and Half Moon Bay in Port Phillip, the City of Greater Geelong receiving $76,000 to develop a 25-year dredging management plan for Clifton Springs harbour and Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water carrying out dredging at lakes Lonsdale and Fyans.

Local and state government departments and agencies, committees of management and local waterway authorities are eligible to apply for the grants. An eligible organisation may submit multiple applications for consideration. For more information and to apply, head to www.betterboating.vic.gov.au

Quotes attributable to Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant

“These grants can make a real difference to boaters, just like we can see here with repairs at Ocean Grove, so it’s a great opportunity for ramp managers to improve their facilities.”