Upgrades for St Leonards jetty are expected to make it easier to hit the water with family and friends these holidays thanks to recreational boating licence and registration fees.
Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos said the jetty had been rebuilt with screens to provide more protection from wind and waves, better lower landings to improve all-abilities access and the end T-section doubled in length giving boaters more space to tie up.
The upgrade was funded through the Victorian government’s Better Boating Fund, which reinvests recreational boaters’ licence and registration fees into projects and programs around the state.
Design and construction have been led by the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Better Boating division and coastal land manager Bellarine Bayside, with the aim to reduce wind and wave action at the ramp – which was identified by boaters as a significant challenge when launching and retrieving.
To help combat that, concrete and reinforced plastic wave screens have been installed along the T-shaped structure, helping to dissipate waves driven by northerly and easterly winds. The end T-section of the jetty is now 40 metres across, maximising the effect of the screens for boats closer to the ramp.
A new accessible gangway and lower landing will make accessing vessels easier for people of all ability levels, with stairs leading to another lower landing on the opposite side of the structure.
A new non-slip deck, additional rubber fenders, cleats to tie ropes to and solar lighting are in place. Early 2025 will see a hoist added to the accessible pontoon, seating installed on the jetty and minor concreting works completed.
“The St Leonards upgrade has been highly anticipated by recreational boaters and this means the ramp is open in time for some great opportunities on the water this Christmas,” Mr Dimopoulos said.
“The Bellarine is an idyllic boating location and many families start their day at this ramp, whether they’re catching a Christmas seafood feast or simply cruising along the coast.”
