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Victoria’s Best and Worst Boat Ramps Revealed

The results are in from RACV Marine’s recent ‘Rate Your Ramp’ survey to reveal Victoria’s best and worst boat ramps. The survey received 1300 responses from recreational boaters rating the facilities at their local ramps, including the water quality, trailer parking, ramp surface and waiting times. In 2018, the Andrews Labor Government committed to spending every dollar from boat license an registration fees on improving boating facilities and safety and abolishing boat ramp parking and launching fees.

Victoria’s worst boat ramp, according to respondents, is Warrnambool’s Lady Bay. It was said to need more car parking, more trailer parking at busy times and 75 per cent rated the ramp’s surface as ‘extremely poor.’ Other ramps to rate poorly with fishers and boaters included Coronet Bay on Western Port, and Black Rock and Safety Beach on Port Phillip.

Patterson River came out on top as Victoria’s best public boat ramp, with boaters satisfied with most facilities, including water quality, wait times, the number of available lanes and the ramp surface. However, the majority felt there was not quite enough trailer parking at busy times. Portland and Saint Helens on Corio Bay were also rated highly amongst boaters. With boaters happy with the water quality and depth and waiting times at these ramps.

VRFish urge all fishers to get on board this campaign so that strategies to reduce ‘ramp rage’ and urgent infrastructure needs can be advocated for, to make Victoria’s boat ramps better for all users.

Boating Industry Association of Victoria CEO Steve Walker said “We look forward to seeing the survey outcomes, identifying the ‘hot spots’ and needs areas, and working with government toaddress them. And as a result, improving things for boaters.”

Average Ramp Ratings (state avg. 2.9)
Top Rated Boat Ramps
Patterson River 4.3
Clifton Springs 4.0
Rye 4.0
Tooradin 3.8
Geelong (Limeburners Point) 3.7

We have heard repeatedly from fishers and boaters about the dire state of many of the state’s boat ramps, this survey has highlighted some of the most troublesome ramps. The findings will be used to inform the State Government of where the problem areas are to ensure there is a high priority placed on those ramps that are considered unsafe by recreational users.

Read the RACV Marine Boat Ramp Media Release

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