Victorian recreational boating strategy Draft for consultation 2021 – 2030 betterboating.vic.gov.au Better Boating Victoria 2 Draft Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy 2021–2030 1 Better Boating Victoria Executive summary Over 417,000 Victorians hold recreational vessel licences, and nearly 10,000 new licences are issued every year. More than one-in-10 Victorians regularly participates in recreational boating. The growth in the number of boaters and the variety of activities they undertake present challenges and opportunities. Most of the challenges are the direct result of competition for assets like boat ramps and car parking. Some of this competition also extends to waterways, particularly between personal watercraft and other users. 2 Draft Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy 2021–2030 The strategy identifies and describes The strategy sets out a number of objectives these challenges. They include: aimed at meeting these challenges. • An inconsistent approach to funding They include: priorities and resource allocation • Improving the maintenance of public • A lack of confidence in the funding model facilities and renewing and building new boating facilities • The poor condition of some boating facilities • Improving access and navigation • A lack of access to water • Investing in destination locations • A shortage of boating facilities for those Victorians requiring all-abilities access • Investing in MSAR and boating safety and education • A shortage of car trailer parking • Promoting boating across Victoria • Under-resourced waterway management and a subsequent lack of oversight over • Improving the quality of data and assets such as moorings, berths, channels, information available to boaters navigation aids and safety signage as well as compliance with local safety rules such as exclusion zones and speed limits • Resourcing of Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR) bodies • A lack of coordination and proper data sharing between marine agencies • The threat to the environment and marine life posed by damaged or abandoned vessels 3 Better Boating Victoria Contents 01 Why we need a recreational boating strategy 7 02 A snapshot of recreational boating in Victoria 11 03 Challenges and opportunities 15 04 Strategy framework 19 Objective 1 22 Objective 2 23 Objective 3 39 Objective 4 41 Objective 5 45 Objective 6 49 Objective 7 51 05 Monitoring and performance criteria 53 06 Action plans and reporting 54 Draft Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy 2021–2030 5 Better Boating Victoria 01 Why we need a recreational boating strategy Boating is one of Victoria’s most popular recreational pursuits. Boating is also a key economic driver, generating nearly $8 billion in economic activity and employing thousands of Victorians. It’s also 417,000 a key component of the visitor economy. Boating is popular in Victoria primarily because Over 417,000 Victorians hold recreational of the abundance of natural waterways. Victoria vessel licenses has some of Australia’s best coastline and inland rivers and lakes, drawing locals and 10,000 visitors alike to the natural beauty. Nearly 10,000 new licenses are issued every year 1 in 10 More than one-in-10 Victorians regularly Boating is critical to many fishing activities, with participates in recreational boating coastal fishing expanding to an all-year round activity, attracting increased offshore boating, whilst our inland waters will be stocked with over 10 million fish by 2022. 6 Draft Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy 2021–2030 Recreational boating is also entertaining and The boating experience across Victoria provides a range of enriching opportunities, is underpinned by the ability to access whether that’s enjoying watersports, sailing good boating facilities, ensuring that the learning how to ski or simply enjoying an overall boating experience is safe and evening sunset. A sense of freedom and sense continues to be accessible. There is a need of adventure are common experiences cited for a long term strategy for a sustainable by regular boaters. network of boating access facilities. Research suggests that people experience emotional, behavioural and psychological benefits by being near water, and that boating The Victorian helps restore a connection with nature. Government has Just the sight and sound of water can lower cortisol levels, increase serotonin and induce a role to play in relaxation, and boating is one of the easiest and safest ways to enjoy these benefits. ensuring that all Community satisfaction, pride, reduced social boaters continue to isolation and volunteering are also enhanced by having functional waterways. enjoy one of the best A healthy environment also plays an important activities this state role in supporting the boating experience and all users play a role in supporting healthy has to offer. waterways. However, as participation in boating increases, The aim of the Victorian Recreational Boating some of the benefits are being diluted. Strategy is to provide a better boating experience through the provision of boating facilities that perform to a high standard, have adequate capacity, are well maintained, are safe and provide improved accessibility for all. 7 Better Boating Victoria Victorian recreational boating in numbers Waterways Victoria has more than 2500km of coastline 13,000 natural wetlands 85,000km 120 of rivers bays, inlets and estuaries Recreational vessel registration Most common vessels Around 417,000 Open Cabin 131,000 197,000 recreational boating 87% registered vessels licence holders Half Cabin of registered 28,500 vessels are <6m 2.5% 256,000 Personal Average registration licence endorsements growth per annum for personal watercrafts Watercraft 24,400 Data as of 2020/2021 8 Draft Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy 2021–2030 Participation in boating 64% of these people are also recreationally fishing 84% use their boat during peak season (October–April) 696,000 35% Approximately 696,000 people go also use their boat during off peak recreational boating across Victoria season (May–September) Participation activities Did you know there are over: • Recreational fishing • Tow sports 450 boat ramps in Victoria • Personal watercraft • Sailing 2000 • Pleasure touring navigation aids • Kayaking • Hovercraft 3900 public berths and moorings • Houseboats Value to the economy Marine incidents $7.91b 3400 direct and indirect output call outs per year $2.92b 22,055 1200 200 direct and indirect direct and indirect jobs vessel disablements (eg serious incidents value added (FTE) to Vic in 2018–19 battery and fuel issues) 9 Better Boating Victoria 02 A snapshot of recreational boating in Victoria Although Victoria has over 400 boating facilities, most boating activity is concentrated at 20 key locations. As Figure 1 shows, Port Phillip and Western Port are the most heavily used, followed by the Gippsland Lakes, Murray River and Lake Eildon. 10 Draft Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy 2021–2030 Figure 4 Key boating centres 3 20 15 9 8 14 4 18 19 16 2 1 13 7 12 11 17 6 5 10 Locations by popularity 1 Port Phillip and 5 Corner Inlet 11 Blue Rock Lake 18 Rocklands Western Port Reservoir 6 Anderson Inlet 12 Torquay 2 Gippsland Lakes 19 Mallacoota 7 Portland 13 Barwon River 3 Murray River 20 Lake Hume 8 Goulburn 14 Cairn Curran 4 Lake Eildon River and Lake 15 Waranga Basin Nagambie 16 Glenelg River 9 Lake Eppalock 17 Warnambool 10 Apollo Bay Usage has been based on data available from Boating Vic, as well as former surveys undertaken by Ipsos (2014) and Ernst & Young (2020) 11 Better Boating Victoria What is a boating facility? Based on engagement with boating facility users and asset managers, the following assets are considered to comprise a boating facility. It should be noted that not all facilities require all the assets identified below (e.g. toilets and fish cleaning tables may only be located at selected facilities). Management and maintenance of facilities Boat ramps Pontoons and Carparks Lighting jetties Navigation aids Toilets Marinas and drystacks 12 Draft Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy 2021–2030 As Figure 2 shows, vessel registration is concentrated around Port Phillip, Western Port, Gippsland and along the Murray. Figure 2 Location of registered vessels Legend 49 53 54 55 No Data 4000-6000 50 52 56 51 0-1000 6000-8000 65 57 59 66 1000-2000 8000-10000 58 67 61 64 60 2000-4000 62 63 69 68 70 72 73 71 1 74 2 75 76 77 4 6 17 5 13 3 10 12 14 18 20 15 16 11 31 7 8 9 19 25 28 30 33 32 24 27 29 35 22 23 26 43 41 42 44 45 34 21 40 46 36 37 39 47 x 38 48 1 Mildura 17 Wodonga 33 Mansfield 49 Melton 65 Boroondara 2 Swan Hill 18 Indigo 34 Wellington 50 Brimbank 66 Monash 3 Hindmarsh 19 Alpine 35 East Gippsland 51 Maribyrnong 67 Knox 4 Yarriambiack 20 Towong 36 Moyne 52 Moonee Valley 68 Bayside 5 Buloke 21 Glenelg 37 Corangamite 53 Moreland 69 Kingston 6 Gannawarra 22 Southern Grampians 38 Colac Otway 54 Darebin 70 Greater Dandinong 7 West Wimmera 23 Ararat 39 Surf Coast 55 Banyule 71 Frankston 8 Horsham 24 Pyrenees 40 Golden Plains 56 Manningham 72 Casey 9 Northern Grampians 25 Central Goldfields 41 Moorabool 57 Maroondah 73 Cardinia 10 Loddon 26 Ballarat 42 Hume 58 City of Wyndham 74 Greater Geelong 11 Greater Bendigo 27 Hepburn 43 Whittlesea 59 Hobsons 75 Morningston 12 Campaspe 28 Mount Alexander 44 Nilumbik 60 Melbourne Peninsula 13 Moira 29 Macedon Ranges 45 Yarrra Ranges 61 Yarra 76 French Island 14 Greater Shepparton 30 Mitchell 46 Baw Baw 62 Port Phillp 77 Bass Coast 15 Benalla 31 Strathbogie 47 Latrobe 63 Stonningham 16 Wangaratta 32 Murrindindi 48 South Gippsland 64 Glen Eira 13 Better Boating Victoria The Transport Integration Act 2010 is Victoria’s Regulatory and planning principal transport Act. The six legislated framework objectives are include social and economic inclusion; economic prosperity; environmental Boating is regulated by a number of acts and sustainability, integration of transport and land planning frameworks.