Following on from the September announcement from the Liberal party regarding a better and fairer deal for local boaties and fishers, and as the State election fast approaches, Labor have declared in a media release that they'll make it cheaper and easier for Victorian families to get out on the water, with an unprecedented boost to recreational boating and fishing if re-elected on November 24th.
Daniel Andrews says:
Labor will fix boat ramps, abolish all boat ramp parking and launching fees and make sure that every cent of licencing and registration fees is spent on boating safety and facilities.
Victorian families know that the costs of parking and launch fees can make a day on the bay an expensive outing, and poorly maintained facilities take the fun out of boating.
Labor will establish a Better Boating Fund to immediately get to work on urgent boat ramp upgrades including at Mordialloc, Queenscliff, Point Richards, Hastings and Rhyll.
Having already invested $1.8 million to revitalize the Cowes Jetty precinct, Labor will undertake critical jetty maintenance works at the much-loved Cowes Jetty.
Paying to park your car and trailer at a boat ramp will be a thing of the past with Labor committing to abolish boat ramp parking fees, saving families up to $315 a year on an annual parking permit.
There’ll also be eight new casual berths across the bay accessible to the public.
Building on the success of the Andrews Labor Government’s record $46 million investment in the Target One Million program, Labor will invest in a massive boost to fish stocking and better planning for fishing tourism.
Under Labor, fish stocking will grow to 10 million a year by 2022, which means more fish to catch, and more tourism for fishing towns.
This comes on top of the $7 million the Labor Government has already committed to a new native fish hatchery in Shepparton.
Labor will also end commercial fishing in the Gippsland Lakes, buying out the last of the commercial fishing licences and return the lakes system for recreational fishing to boost local tourism and jobs.
And for those who want to take their love of fishing from the ramp to the road, VicRoads will offer a new range of recreational fishing designed licence plates for cars, introduced as part of the range of custom plates.