BIA welcome maritime infrastructure spend

by AAP Medianet 10 Oct 2020 22:32 PDT

Boating Industry Association President Darren Vaux has welcomed the NSW Government announcement of $205 million in maritime infrastructure works over the next three years.

Minister for Transport Andrew Constance made the announcement yesterday saying the funding would be a significant economic stimulus which would create nearly 1300 jobs in NSW.

Darren Vaux said new and improved infrastructure was essential to ensure safe and convenient access for people of all ages and abilities to experience the waterways.

"It is good to see the NSW Government recognising the value of investment in maritime as part of its COVID-19 economic recovery plan," Vaux said.

"Improving wharves that allow recreational vessels to pick up and set down passengers, dredging regional waterways that are clogged with silted channels and improving regional maritime infrastructure are good for our maritime community across the State.

"We are looking forward to greater details on some of these infrastructure programs."

Mr Vaux said the industry was expecting further announcements in the coming months about the NSW Government's boating safety program which is also funded out of the Waterways Fund.

"People have responded to COVID by choosing domestic outdoor family activities and what better way to do that than in a boat. We expect the current strong interest and participation in the boating lifestyle to continue up to and beyond this summer," he said.

The $205 million in funding will go to priority areas, including:

• Regional maritime infrastructure
• Regional dredging
• Ferry wharf upgrades
• Maritime property improvements.

Minister Constance said some of the key projects were as follows:

• $25 million to upgrade Manly Wharf 3
• $9 million to prepare the former Manly Sea Life site for its future use after 60 years as an aquarium
• $37 million for ferry wharves at Double Bay, Darling Point and Greenwich Point which are among those being made safer and accessible
• $16 million will help fund construction of the Kamay ferry wharves, currently being planned to connect La Perouse and Kurnell
• $8 million for dredging work to ensure safe navigation of channels and entrances, particularly in regional waterways
• $29 million will fund additional regional maritime infrastructure and foreshore work in locations from Tweed Heads to Eden.

The $205 million stimulus will come from the Waterways Fund, which is made up of fees collected from maritime property revenue which includes wetland leases, as well as boating licences, registrations, and mooring licences. The project delivery timeline extends to 2023.

More information at: www.bia.org.au