A DAY on the water will now be cheaper for boating enthusiasts in Frankston.
Boat ramp fees were abolished at Kananook Creek and Olivers Hill last week. Boat ramp parking permits will no longer be issued and casual parking fees will be removed for people parking with boat trailers.
Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke said “by scrapping these fees, we’re ensuring more members of the Frankston community can get out on the water and wet a line.”
Fishing and boating minister Jaala Pulford said “getting rid of parking and launching fees is a massive win for Victorian families, who can enjoy more affordable boating and fishing this season.”
The state government promised to abolish boat ramp fees statewide in the leadup to the state election in November last year. At Frankston Council’s 2 September meeting, councillors voted unanimously to “revoke all boat launching fees previously adopted as operation – foreshore reserve maintenance in its 2019-2020 fees and charges (…) subject to reimbursement of income from Better Boating Victoria, authorise the Chief Executive Officer to execute the funding agreement with Better Boating Victoria for ongoing reimbursement to council for loss of income in relation to removal of fees at boat ramps, and authorise officers to make pro-rata refunds to existing permit holders for the unused component of their current 2018/2019 permit.”
The mayor Michael O’Reilly said “council is pleased to have made this decision to support the removal of boat ramp parking fees in time for snapper season, which is always a very popular time at our local boat ramps.”
After announcing fees had been abolished in Frankston, Ms Pulford asked for Kingston Council to work with the state government to abolish boat ramp fees at Mordialloc. She said that Mordialloc and Queenscliff were the only public boat ramps in the state which still charge parking and launching fees.
Ms Pulford said she called on “the City of Kingston to work with government to remove fees as soon as possible”.
“We want the Borough of Queenscliffe and the City of Kingston to join the party because we know boaters and anglers want to launch into a fee free spring,” she said.