Coalition delivers $65 million Better Bay Plan

[fishingvic]

The Hon Dr Denis Napthine MP
Premier
Minister for Regional Cities
Minister for Racing
Visit http://www.premier.vic.gov.au" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for more news

Media release
Sunday 2 November 2014

Coalition delivers $65 million Better Bay Plan

-A re-elected Napthine Government to deliver $65 million Better Bay Plan
-Recreational fishing mecca for Port Phillip Bay and Corio Bay with $20 million
over four years for buyback of commercial licences
-Napthine Government committed to protecting Victoria’s beaches,
strengthening coastal communities and boosting recreational fishing

Port Phillip Bay will be protected and restored for all Victorians to enjoy under a re-elected
Victorian Coalition Government.

Premier Denis Napthine today unveiled a $65 million Better Bay Plan and announced that
commercial netting in Port Phillip Bay and Corio Bay will be phased out.

Dr Napthine said the comprehensive plan focused on preserving and rehabilitating one of the
state’s best assets, while also building important community infrastructure to enable more
people to enjoy the picturesque Port Phillip Bay.

A re-elected Napthine Government’s Better Bay Plan will deliver:
-A $20.5 million investment into new and upgraded bike paths around Port Phillip Bay;
-$16.7 million to protect the bay against the impacts of erosion, litter and marine pests;
-$4.29 million to upgrade and improve fishing piers; and
-$3.07 million for Beach Patrol volunteers and investment into Surf Life Saving Clubs.

“Port Phillip Bay is one of the many assets that makes Melbourne the world’s most livable city
and makes Victoria the best state in Australia,” Dr Napthine said.

“Our Better Bay Plan is the only integrated strategy to keep the Bay beautiful and enhance its
amenity for more people to enjoy.

“We will deliver this $65 million initiative because Port Phillip Bay is the heart of Victoria, it’s
where we spend time with our friends and families and it is definitely worth protecting for
future generations,” Dr Napthine said.

Dr Napthine said the Victorian Coalition Government was also committed to improving
recreational fishing opportunities for Victorians and if re-elected, would allocate $20 million
over four years towards a buyback of commercial licences for Port Phillip Bay and Corio Bay.

“This will significantly improve recreational fishing opportunities through greater fish numbers
in the bay, which will in turn boost the recreational fishing industry and see benefits flow on to
local businesses.”

“Our vision is for Port Phillip Bay and Corio Bay to be recreational fishing meccas for locals
and visitors,” Dr Napthine said.

The $20 million funding commitment over four years would provide a fair and equitable exit
strategy for licence holders and the buyback would be phased to minimise the impacts to the
commercial fishing industry.

An independent panel would be established to make recommendations to the Coalition
Government on how the buyback would be structured and commercial netting will be phased
out. The panel would consult with the relevant peak bodies such as the Seafood Industry
Victoria and Victorian Recreational Fishing (VRFish) and key stakeholders Future Fish,
Australian Fishing Trading Association and others.

Media contact:
Mark Lee 0408 547 381 mark.lee@minstaff.vic.gov.au

[davek]

All good If it goes to plan, :thumbsup: cheers davo

[Scraglor]

That looks fantastic. Let's hope if they get elected they follow through


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[CarlG]

Yup, and when they're re-elected, straight on the backburner, then shelved. I don't believe a bloody word of it. How coincidental it comes straight after tea tree, when a couple of thousand people have been out sitting on the bay..bull artists..

[cahoona]

A $20.5 million investment into new and upgraded bike paths around Port Phillip Bay
with this one they will probably make beach rd a single lane not good

$16.7 million to protect the bay against the impacts of erosion, litter and marine pests
erosion and they make the entrance deeper to make more tidel to erode the beaches away just to spend more money to fix it . northern sea star they have already spent money trying to get rid of it but it is a huge problem in the bay and needs to be fixed

$4.29 million to upgrade and improve fishing piers
thats a bonus but its not enough money they are very excpensive to upgrade

$3.07 million for Beach Patrol volunteers and investment into Surf Life Saving Club
and that is definetly not enough money for them for the lifes they save


goverments give me the ***** next they will find derilick buildings and put all the pensoniers in and give em one can of bake beans a day and no money
thats my ***** for the month :lolf:

[Nude up]

20.5 million to pander to the lycra brigade again only 4.29 mil to upgrade fishing access the only positibve the 20 mil to buy back netting licenses in reality the 16.7 mil for errosion protection is to repair the damage done by deepening the heads. So out of the 65 mil fishing gets 24.29 mil but 65 sounds better where are the new boat ramps or make them free like nsw

[DougieK]

Yup, and when they're re-elected, straight on the backburner, then shelved. I don't believe a bloody word of it. How coincidental it comes straight after tea tree, when a couple of thousand people have been out sitting on the bay..b******* artists..

No cuts to education, hospitals, welfare or pensions......


IF they get elected, which they won't, and IF they decide top follow through it's a good idea.

I'm not a cyclist but I understand they represent a decent % of the voting electorate and need to be catered too as well.

The money for piers is nowhere near enough in my opinion. Other than that, the plan on paper looks ok, but I would be very very suprised if they followed through with it.

[cahoona]

bike rego's 60 bucks a year lets vote it in so they can start paying for there bike paths :woohoo:

[cobby]

bike rego's 60 bucks a year lets vote it in so they can start paying for there bike paths :woohoo:

This. They expect all the infrastructure in the world yet scream rape if they sense an inkling they'll have to pay for it. Hypocritical knobs

[malleestump]

If you want your hard earned taxes squandered then vote Labour simple as that.Desalplant,nth/ South pipe line,and Myki.Just 3 that are burning a hole in the budget now whoever gets in.