Portarlington and Indented have been announced among the 35 state government recreational boating grants.
The grants were announced by Minister for Outdoor Recreation Sonya Kilkenny and Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant last week.
A $2.75 million investment is hoped to improve facilities and undertake dredging to facilitate greater access during lower tides and water levels.
Minister Kilkenny visited Indented Head and Portarlington’s Steeles Rock boat ramp to see first-hand how the pair of grants will boost boating for locals and visitors.
At Indented Head, a Structural Maintenance Grant of $55,690 will upgrade the jetty with a new non-slip deck to improve boat access upon launching and retrieval.
New walers will also be installed to increase impact protection to boats and the jetty and ageing capping on the timber structure will be replaced.
Further along the peninsula, a Dredging and Access Grant worth $50,000 will be used by Bellarine Bayside to dredge several ramps including Steele’s Rocks at Portarlington, providing better access at a greater range of tides.
A further $18,375 will be used to upgrade jetty ladders at Steeles Rock and improve the ramp surface at nearby Point Richards to ensure they provide safe surfaces for boaters accessing their craft.
“The improvements at Indented Head and Portarlington will make a big difference for locals who regularly use these ramps as well as the many visitors who enjoy holidays on the Bellarine because of the wide range of boating opportunities on offer,” Ms Marchant said.
The grants have been awarded through the state government’s Recreational Boating Structural
Maintenance and Dredging and Access Grants programs and funded by the reinvestment of boaters’ recreational licence and registration fees.
