Safe Boat Harbours:
The answer to Victoria's Coastal Constipation

By Darren Reid

The majority of Victoria's saltwater fishing occurs in bays and inlets - Port Phillip Bay, Western Port and the Gippsland Lakes. When compared to other States in Australia this 'bias' towards bay and inlet fishing is a direct result of inadequate boat harbours and strong southerly winds. South Australia for example, is subject to similar adverse weather conditions at times, yet with perhaps a third of Victoria's population it has a far greater number of safe offshore boating facilities for anglers than Victoria! Why?

The Green element and the Bracks Government in Victoria have made much of the fact that only 5% of the Victorian coast has been designated as 'No Take' courtesy of marine parks.

The argument put forward by anglers has long been that much of Victoria's coast is inaccessible to anglers. As an example, from Wilson's Promontory through to the border with NSW (around 400km of coastline) there is only one boat ramp that offers reasonably safe offshore access, this being at Port Welshpool.

There are protected boat ramps inside the Gippsland Lakes at Lakes Entrance, however boats still need to negotiate a dangerous sand bar at the entrance and many boats have been lost over the years. As a result, few boats venture into the Tasman Sea compared to the number capable of doing so. There is a concrete offshore boat ramp at Cape Conran but unfortunately this ramp is completely open to prevailing southerly winds.

Slugged with a fishing licence a couple of years ago, Victoria's boat angler fraternity has to now endure a boat licence to accompany the boat and trailer registration fees. The annual cost of these taxes is around $130. Where do the funds go? Are we going to get some tangible improvements to relieve Victoria's coastal constipation?

The Constipated Coast

Port Phillip Bay is the most popular saltwater recreational fishing destination in Victoria, as it is surrounded by greater Melbourne & Geelong's combined population of close to 4 million. Yet there is no safe offshore access. The entrance or 'Rip' is highly dangerous and is only safely navigated by highly experienced locals. The 'Bay' being some 35 times the size of Sydney harbour, yet with a similar sized entrance, is literally unable to empty at low tide or fill at high tide on time, the delay in water transfer is some 3 hours after the scheduled tide change as the sheer volume of water 'in and out', simply cannot escape. This creates huge pressure waves and is especially dangerous on a run out tide matched with only a reasonable strength southerly wind.

Western Port has safer access to offshore fishing, however the distance from existing boat ramps inside Western Port and the fuel capacity required, limits many potential offshore boating trips. In addition, Western Port's boat ramps are already at full capacity and in need of major upgrade.

What is a safe boat harbour?
A safe harbour is a boating facility that is protected from all directions from wind and swell.

An adequate boat launching facility located inside these harbours can accommodate trailerboats to 7 metres, typically have two launching lanes, with four lanes preferable, and include floating pontoons/landings.

In the case of a river bar entrance, break walls are constructed that extend offshore to protect incoming and outgoing boats from ocean swell.

The following are my brief recommendations for the creation of four new safe boat harbours designed to begin to address Victoria's lack of safe and adequate boating facilities for offshore
anglers.

Flinders
Flinders is ideal for access to Bass Strait and waters adjacent to the Mornington Peninsula. A safe harbour which takes advantage of some natural protection, as offered by West Head, would suit and ideally feature a four lane boat ramp and floating pontoons. This facility would service the vast south-eastern population centres and would be an alternative to negotiating the entrance to Port Philip Bay and the distance required from Western Port's current boating facilities.

Barwon Heads
Experienced anglers currently risk the sand bar at the river entrance to fish offshore. Whilst perhaps utilising the existing boat ramps within the Barwon River, a protective breakwall could be built extending offshore from the river entrance. As an example of the need for such a facility, the nearest safe boat harbour west of this point is more than 150 kilometres away at Apollo Bay. This would be a major facility for Geelong and Melbourne based anglers.

Lakes Entrance
Lakes Entrance is well served by boat ramps inside the Gippsland Lakes, however what is required is the extension of the breakwalls to form a protected harbour. This would benefit the entire boating fraternity, not just recreational fisherman, as the highly tidal entrance is extremely dangerous for 'small' boats. The offshore reefs are very popular but a dangerous bar severely restricts most anglers. Lakes Entrance is a major tourism hub.

Mallacoota
An inadequate sand covered ramp at Bastion Point is failing to deliver maximum tourism benefits to Mallacoota. What is required is a protected boating facility with a minimum of two launching lanes. Such a facility would allow anglers the opportunity to chase tuna, marlin and other sportsfish. The tourism potential is very high, not only in attracting NSW anglers south, but also keeping Victorian anglers from crossing the border north to fish Eden, Merimbula and Bermagui. Some natural protection afforded by Bastion Point makes this an idea location for a protected boat harbour and launching facility.

Additional Safety Concerns
The depletion of estuarine fish stocks, primarily as a result of commercial netting, pollution and marine pests combined with the introduction of marine parks in popular bay and estuary locations will force a greater number of anglers to seek new fishing opportunities offshore. Dangerous sand bars and tidal rips are often worse in the afternoon when boating anglers are likely to return from offshore fishing days thus increasing the risk of disaster. A safe boat harbour largely eliminates the dangers of negotiating these areas significantly.

Currently there are only four safe access points along Victoria's entire coast - Portland, Port Fairy & Apollo Bay in the west, with Port Welshpool in the east. With regard to Port Welshpool this facility is tucked well up inside Corner Inlet meaning a considerable trip for a trailerboat to get offshore. Western Victoria is served quite well, yet the majority of Victoria's population live at least 250 kilometres from these facilities.

In my opinion, the creation of four new Safe Boat Harbours at Flinders, Barwon Heads, Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota would at least provide a basic network of safe boating facilities along Victoria's coast. Will the Brack's Government now flushed angler money, provide some relief?