Grants to ramp up WA boating facilities

• $1.5 million in funding towards improving recreational boating facilities across Western Australia
• Nine Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme (RBFS) grants will help develop new facilities and improve existing infrastructure benefiting nearly 100,000 boat owners and others 

Key recreational boating facilities such as ramps and jetties will be upgraded or built following the release of $1.5 million worth of State Government grants.

Boat owners across WA will soon enjoy the benefits of nine projects that were successful in securing funding in the latest round of the Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme.

The City of Melville secured the biggest allocation of the funds with a $700,000 grant to enhance the popular Deepwater Point boating facility by replacing the existing ramp with two new ramp lanes and incorporating a new central finger jetty.

Meanwhile, the Shire of Harvey will receive $278,570 to upgrade The Elbow boat ramp and finger jetty to make it suitable for power boat use.

This year's round of grants was split evenly between metropolitan and regional projects.
Boating facility managers can apply for grants up to 75 per cent of the estimated project cost, with the maximum amount limited to $750,000.

​Applications can be made for the planning, construction or upgrade of boat launching ramps, jetties, moorings and new channels that are directly related to a public boating facility. 
Eligible land-based infrastructure at public boating facilities include trailer parking, toilets, fish cleaning stations, lighting and signage.  
More information about the scheme is available at http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/rbfs or by contacting the RBFS Grants Officer on 9435 7612.

Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

"Once again, RBFS funding has been keenly sought this year, with a total of 22 eligible applications seeking total grant funding of nearly $6 million.
"The upgrade of facilities at Deepwater Point will significantly improve efficiency and ease waiting times at the very busy ramp - especially during peak periods.
"The scheme, established in 1998 to assist in the planning and development of public boating facilities including upgrades to existing infrastructure, allows boat owners to directly contribute as it is partly funded from boat registration fees."