Final concept plans for upgrades at the popular St Leonards boat ramp on the Bellarine Peninsula have been released following consultation with boaters and the local community.

Minister for Outdoor Recreation Sonya Kilkenny and Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant visited the ramp today to see how the proposed upgrades would make getting out on the water easier for boaters.

The four-lane ramp is a go-to for local and visiting boaters targeting whiting and calamari as well as gummy shark, flathead and snapper in the tidal waters at the southern end of Port Phillip.

In early 2022, Better Boating Victoria (BBV) held public consultation enabling boaters and the local community to have their say and inform the development of draft concept plans.

A draft concept was released for consultation in December 2022, with nearly 300 boaters and community members providing feedback online and at an in-person event at the boat ramp. The plans proposed adding wave screens to the jetty, extending the ‘T’ section at the end of the jetty and creating a new overflow parking area on the southern side of the ramp.

The majority of respondents were in favour of the jetty upgrades but did not overwhelmingly support developing the overflow parking area. As a result, no changes will be made to overflow parking. The final concept includes minor improvements to the main carpark to increase traffic flow and make backing down the ramp easier.

Through in-person and online consultation boaters also called for a breakwall or safe harbour to be built. Advice from experienced coastal engineers has determined this would affect sand movement patterns and likely lead to significant erosion elsewhere along the shore. Wave screens were subsequently identified as the most appropriate option to reduce wave energy at the ramp.

BBV and ramp manager Bellarine Bayside Committee of Management will soon prepare detailed designs and seek approvals to prepare for future construction. You can view the final concept and summary of consultation feedback at https://betterboating.vic.gov.au/ramp-upgrades/st-leonards/

Quote attributable to Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant

“Boating is a huge part of life here on the Bellarine, particularly during summer when families flock to this beautiful part of the world. It’s important to have good quality facilities to make their boating experience a positive one and that’s what the proposed upgrades at St Leonards will help to ensure.”