Environment and Climate Change >
MARITIME VISION FOR MELBOURNE’S BAYS TO DRIVE JOBS
Friday 03 July, 2009
Melbourne’s bays infrastructure will receive immediate and future upgrades
thanks to $4 million in Brumby Labor Government funding that will create
jobs in the tourism, marine services and aquaculture industries.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings said the funding,
added to the $5 million provided last year to begin improvements to Port
Phillip and Westernport Bays to ensure they remained vibrant places for
Victorian businesses and the community.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action with this funding to ensure
Melbourne’s bays remain an important part of our economy and continue to
provide recreational activities for many Victorians now and into the
future,” Mr Jennings said.
He said $2.23 million has been allocated for immediate upgrades such as
improving car and trailer parking at boating facilities, maintaining safe
navigation and access at popular launch locations and the reconstruction of
the wall and wharf areas at locations such as St Kilda, Patterson River and
Queenscliff.
The remaining $1.77 million would be used to develop the Brumby Labor
Government’s Maritime Precinct Plan, outlined in the Bays and Maritime
Initiative, which has designated a network of maritime precincts at
Frankston, Geelong, Hastings, Hobson’s Bay, Mordialloc, Mornington,
Patterson River, Portarlington, Queenscliff, St Kilda, Stony Point/Cowes
and Wyndham.
“The Brumby Labor Government’s vision for the bays identifies key maritime
precincts that will be developed as activity hubs with improved public
spaces and better access to recreational and tourism opportunities on land
and water,” Mr Jennings said.
“These maritime precincts will be vibrant destinations, reinforcing
Melbourne’s Activity Centres. They will be connected with public transport
and walking and cycling paths and will be great places to visit whether
from land or from the water’s edge.
“Precinct renewal is critical to ensuring that recreational activities such
as boating and fishing and industry such as aquaculture and boat
manufacturing have appropriate access to water, infrastructure and
markets.”
Parks Victoria has been named the lead agency within the Victorian
Government to coordinate concept planning, delivery and management in the
maritime precincts and will work with work with local governments and other
key stakeholders to prepare the areas for eventual private investment
opportunities.
More information on the maritime precincts is available at
www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
