Advocacy, Progress and Election 2022
Early in this election year it is good to reflect on where we have come in the past three years, including how effective our advocacy work has been. It is time to also develop BIAV’s aspirations for the 2022 election and subsequent parliamentary period.
What can be said is that our advocacy efforts of many years, and in particular leading up to, and after the 2018 state election have been very successful.
Whilst there is a way to go until Victorian boaters specifically see and experience a better level of service and product offering, as of now, a completely superior set of strategic and structural factors are in place.
Structurally speaking, we now have in place a specific and engaged Boating Minister. Hon. Melissa Horne holds this first of its kind role, having taking it over from Hon. Jaala Pulford mid-term.
Early in the term, the then Boating Minister and the Premier established Better Boating Victoria. A never seen before component of the Transport Department with a dedicated focus on making boating better in Victoria. This has given BIAV unprecedented access to government, a seat at all tables, and the ability to liaise closely and influence outcomes. It has been a stark contrast to what was in place previously, under both types of previous governments.
Soon after Min. Horne transitioned into the role, the Better Boating Fund was legislated, and then established on 1 July 2021. In essence, it sees in excess of $30m per year, going from the boating fees collected, straight into the fund. The fund is to be broken up and allocated for all of the BIAV ‘wishlist’ items. The dominant wishlist item is to improve the quality and quantity of boat ramp facilities, and in particular to see more capacity in terms of car/trailer parking. This is where the biggest portion of the fund will be going. There are also allocations for maintenance, a systematic dredging program (of boating facilities), safety programs, aids to navigation, the promotion of boating and the boating lifestyle, boating destinations, and, revising the boater behaviour study.
Already there are numerous boat ramp projects at either concept, planning, or implementation stage, and many more on the drawing board.
Better Boating Victoria has established a great team, lead by Katherine Grech, and 12-months ago moved into the Vic Fishing Authority department, where it certainly seems to be well suited, and best supported.
During the Spring of 2021 the Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy was launched by the Minister. This document shines with BIAV wishlist items, a determination to make boating better in Victoria, to improve facilities and access, and more. It is driven by BBV and Katherine Grech, with full Minister, Department, and VFA support.
So in terms of the strategy and structure the situation is light years ahead of where it was just one cycle ago. BIAV is well placed to work alongside this structure, continuing to influence for the right budget allocations from the Fund, and the best long-term outcomes for boaters.
Being an election year, our Board and Advocacy Committee will join me in looking forward, to see what we can expect of both parties, if they are either re-elected in the case of the government, or elected, in the case of the opposition.
Whilst the Fund is a great thing that is working well, one thing that remains aspirational for BIAV is that the fees are ‘hypothecated’ into the Fund. Currently the legislation requires that they be approved each time by the Treasurer. That’s working fine right now, however it is not guaranteed or future proofed. This will certainly come up in discussions with both political sides as November approaches.
Another significant issue to push for may be a more streamlined governance model for public boating facilities. Boat ramps. This is especially with regard to Port Phillip and Westernport, where so many different entities have management, influence, constraints and conflicting priorities. Whilst streamlining this would be a major task, a single unity model is certainly something that BIAV sees as suitable, that could form another election wishlist item for 2022. BBV with VFA and full Minister support would be the obvious candidate for this task.
Driving the Recreational Boating Strategy, and the pipeline of priority projects, so as to meet boater needs, and specifically tackle the best projects may well be the third cog of BIAV’s 2022 election wishlist. Priority projects may include, however not be limited to the development of one or two new supersites for boat launching, upgrades and capacity increases at some current sites, or other boating experience improvements that boaters advise are needed. The structure is now in place to support this so maximising will be a priority.
There is plenty of time for our members and stakeholders to weigh in on this and our Board, Advocacy Committee and I would be only too happy to hear any thoughts, ideas, or election wishlist items.
Steve Walker
BIAV CEO
March 2022
