A revamped concrete boat ramp at Laanecoorie Reservoir’s Brownbill Reserve has opened today making getting out onto the water easier for Victorian families.
Funded by the reinvestment of recreational boaters’ licence and registration fees through the Victorian Government’s Better Boating Fund, the ramp and parking has been relocated 160 metres westward, providing boating access away from a popular swimming area.
Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) CEO Travis Dowling said the $800,000 project comprised of laying down a concrete ramp enabling launching down to 50 per cent water level and included additional parking with 12 spaces big enough for cars and trailers.
“Laanecoorie is a family friendly location in the heart of central Victoria that offers some great fishing and boating experiences,” he said.
“In the past decade we’ve stocked 825,000 Murray cod and golden perch fingerlings as part of our record-breaking stocking program, which has seen an unparalleled 29.5 million fish released across Victoria in the past three years.
“In between fishing sessions you can get out and tow the kids around on a donut or just enjoy the sights and the sounds with a quiet cruise.
“We’ve also recently upgraded facilities at Cairn Curran Reservoir’s Picnic Point ramp and you can launch at Tullaroop Reservoir and use your electric motor, so there’s never been a better time to hit the water in this great part of the state.”
The project was managed by Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW), with water levels lowered to allow construction to take place ahead of a busy summer period.
“Summer’s always prime time at our storages, including Laanecoorie, so it’s great to see this new facility open and ready for families to enjoy,” GMW Loddon/Campaspe Storage Manager Paul Wakenshaw said.
“The upgrade will also make things easier and safer for swimmers, so it’s a win all around.”
The old ramp has been decommissioned but will remain available for people launching kayaks and canoes. Contractors will return in early 2025 to seal the new gravel parking area.
To find out more about how the VFA’s Better Boating team is progressing the state’s biggest ever boat ramp construction program, head to www.betterboating.vic.gov.au
