The Andrews Labor Government’s commitment that it will remove boat ramp parking and launching fees for councils that charged them, greatly disadvantages East Gippsland and Wellington Shire Councils and their ratepayers.

Member for Gippsland East and Shadow Minister for Fishing and Boating, Tim Bull, said councils that will be subsidised by the Government have charged these fees to cover maintenance costs. However, shires like the East Gippsland and Wellington councils, that meet these maintenance costs out of general rate revenue will get nothing, meaning they are being massively short changed.

“For example, Mornington Shire (that has six ramps) will receive over half a million dollars compensation from the state and Hobson’s Bay (two ramps) will receive $356,000 from Daniel Andrews’ coffers as this is what whey raised from fees annually to maintain the facilities.

“However, East Gippsland Shire, that has to maintain 24 ramps and car parks and Wellington Shire (19 ramps) – and do so from general rates revenue – will receive nothing.

“In effect the government is picking up the boat ramp and car park maintenance bill for predominantly metro councils, while others like East Gippsland and Wellington, that did not charge fees on locals and visitors, but rather maintained these facilities from general rate revenue, get zilch.

“This leaves these rural and regional councils, and their ratepayers, at an incredibly unfair disadvantage,” said Mr Bull.

“This city-centric Labor Government needs to have a fair system, not yet another policy that disadvantages regional Victorians.”

Caption: Member for Gippsland East and Shadow Minister for Fishing and Boating, Tim Bull says East Gippsland and Wellington Shire are being short changed by the Andrews Labor Government on boat ramp and car park funding.