Tuesday, 10 September 2019

 Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Roads, Minister for Road Safety and the TAC, Minister for Fishing and Boating) (12:50): I rise to update the house on the government’s commitment to abolish fees for launching and parking at boat ramps right across Victoria. I am delighted to report that as of today almost all of Victoria’s boat ramps are free thanks to our government’s election promise to make boating cheaper, easier and safer.

Last Friday I had the opportunity to visit two now fee-free ramps—at Kananook Creek in Frankston and at Rhyll on Phillip Island—and I thank the members for Frankston and Bass in the other place for hosting me in their electorates on Friday. They are outstanding local members and know very well how important this reform is to boaters and their families, both their own constituents and people who travel from further afield to come and spend time, and indeed spend money, in their communities. Queenscliff and Mordialloc are now the only public boat ramps that continue to charge parking and launching fees, and I can update the house that Better Boating Victoria is having positive discussions with both the Borough of Queenscliffe and Kingston City Council about removing those last few fees as soon as possible.

As well as congratulating Bass Coast shire on scrapping fees on their four public boat ramps, Friday was an opportunity to inspect the Rhyll boat ramp and indeed to talk to a couple of gentlemen who were off to try their luck at the end of the pier with their fishing rods. But the Rhyll boat ramp is one of six around Victoria that will be upgraded as part of our government’s $47.2 million investment into boating. AW Maritime has now been contracted to develop a concept design for the upgrade, and Phillip Island locals can look forward to contributing to the development of the design over the coming weeks. This will be finalised by November. As the weather does warm up, there has never been a better time to be a boater in Victoria or indeed an angler, as all anglers know. All the boaties in Victoria can rest assured that our government has their stern.