State set to cut boat ramp fees

Arthur Showell is unhappy about the state of the Werribee South boat ramp. Photo by Damjan Janevski.

By Alesha Capone

The state government says it is working with Wyndham council on arrangements to remove boat launching and parking fees at the Werribee South Boat Ramp.

The state government last week announced that Better Boating Victoria would scrap all boat launching and parking fees across Victoria by spring.

The first boat ramps to have fees scrapped will be in Hobsons Bay, Port Welshpool, Bass Coast shire council, Portland, Corinella, Lake Nagambie and Torquay.

A state government spokesperson said: “We are currently working with Wyndham council about arrangements to remove fees at Werribee South Boat Ramp”.

Parking at the Werribee South Boat Ramp is currently free as the casual parking ticket machines at the site have not been operational since early last year.

In September,

Star Weekly reported that Wyndham council was considering using a mobile app for motorists to pay for parking.

The Werribee South Boat Ramp includes six boat ramps (two shallow), a fish cleaning table and four floating pontoons.

Pontoon No. 1 is currently unavailable due to damage. A combination of high winds and a change to dredging patterns by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning deposited a large amount of sand under the pontoons at the ramp, which caused the damage.

Last week, Premier Daniel Andrews and Fishing and Boating Minister Jaala Pulford visited the Warmies boat ramp at Newport to announce that parking and launching at boat ramps across Hobsons Bay were now free.

“These fees cost Victorian families hundreds of dollars a year; we said we’d abolish them and we’re delivering,” Mr Andrews said.

~ with Goya Dmytryshchak