Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Warneet boating precinct

Ms CRUGNALE (Bass) (19:13): (6311) My adjournment is to the Minister for Fishing and Boating and Minister for Ports and Freight, and the action I seek is for the minister to come and visit the coastal village of Warneet and meet the key local representatives from the yachting, foreshore, boating and fishing clubs and committees. I have met with local residents and visited this stunning part of the world on several occasions recently. I also attended a meeting last week organised by Alex Stroud, commodore of the Warneet Motor Yacht Club, with a focus for me being to listen to the members from the jetties committee, who are passionate advocates and relentless campaigners and active in their community and know this area, its history and its waters so well.

We went through the Warneet Boating Precinct Plan, which was released late last year, which outlines the priorities for the area. Feedback during both consultation rounds included replacing ageing jetties at the north and south sites, new public toilet facilities and an upgraded boat ramp and car park at Warneet South. The final plan outlined concept designs addressing these and other infrastructure priorities. Whilst both jetties are managed by Parks Victoria—the assets themselves—the works identified on the jetties will be considered under the Sustainable Local Ports Framework. The members present were pleased to hear that the ports portfolio is also held by the Minister for Fishing and Boating.

There is nothing better than sitting down, going for a walk, standing at the area of interest, asking questions and listening to locals speak to their priorities and aspirations. I learned so much about this area, its history and the value and vitalness of their jetties, and I appreciate the work that has gone into Better Boating Victoria, who have taken the lead and are working alongside state and local government agencies and community to develop up the precinct plan. There are 90 boats moored in Warneet. It is a township with one road in and one road out—the same road. It is interwoven with the surrounding communities of Blind Bight and Cannons Creek, backdropped by the Ramsar wetlands and set in a tree conservation zone. I look forward to welcoming the minister to Warneet to join with me and meet with these incredible advocates.