A STUDY will be held to identify sites for new boat ramps on the Mornington Peninsula.
The Mornington Peninsula Marine Alliance says a steering committee will hire consultants to undertake the $40,000 feasibility study.
The state government-financed study will also investigate improving existing boat ramps.
Head of the marine alliance Stefan Borzeki, who operates Yaringa boat harbour near Somerville, said 60 per cent of the state’s recreational boating took place on Western Port and Port Phillip.
He said there had been “little renewal or replacement of marine infrastructure in the past 25 years … This under investment is a grave risk for the viability of the marine industry”.
“Boat ownership is increasing and the government has recognised the need to meet the demands of more access to our waters,”’ Mr Borzecki said.
“With this demand there is a great opportunity to create more local employment in the marine sector, and more local jobs means greater local prosperity.”
Mr Borzeki said the steering committee would include representatives from Parks Victoria, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Boating Industry Association Victoria and “key local industry persons from the MPMA”.
The committee will seek expressions of interest from three “suitably qualified consultants to ensure the project is run in a timely, responsive and comprehensive manner”.
“Victoria cannot lose more jobs, we as a community must create more jobs and the marine sector is a great industry for the Mornington Peninsula; the key to this is creating easier access to the waters of Port Phillip and Western Port.”
First published in the Mornington News – 22 March 2016
