As part of the Victorian Government’s investment into making it easier to get out on the water, St Leonards boat ramp is being upgraded. Final concept designs have been prepared and works are underway to commence Stage 1 of the upgrade in 2024.
Updates to the final concept design for the St Leonards Boat Ramp upgrade have been released to the public. In addition to the improved jetty and wave protection, other updates include the addition of two new boat ramp lanes and a new pedestrian footpath. These designs are currently being developed, along with environmental and cultural heritage permits and approvals, to facilitate the upgrade.
Click here to view the final designs.
The St Leonards Boat Ramp upgrade will be delivered in two stages, commencing with Stage 1 after Easter in 2024. Subject to permits and approvals, Stage 1 will include the construction of a new central T jetty at the boat ramp with inbuilt wave baffles to reduce the impact of wave action at the boat ramp.
The next stage of works, comprising of additional boat ramp lanes, pedestrian footpath and minor on land civil works, are subject to additional environmental and cultural heritage approvals and will be delivered in future years.
For more information on the latest design and upcoming works please click here. The St Leonards boat ramp is a 4-lane ramp located in the southern part of Port Phillip on the Bellarine Peninsula. The boat launching facility includes a long central jetty with short ‘T’ piece at the end, two smaller finger jetties on the northern and southern sides, dedicated car/trailer parks, toilets, fish cleaning table and an overflow carpark across the road. This facility is managed by Bellarine Bayside Committee of Management.
St Leonards is one of the most popular ramps on the Bellarine Peninsula. It has been identified for a future upgrade due to increasing demand and the age of the facility.
Consultation with boaters and the local community in 2022 highlighted the major issues with ramp being the impact of wind driven waves on the ramp which make launching and retrieval problematic for boat operators.
Other issues raised included limited parking and some difficulty accessing vessels berthed alongside the aging timber jetty.
Based on the outcomes of the initial consultation, a draft concept plan was prepared in consultation with other government agencies for public consultation which featured provision of waterside upgrades to address the impact of waves on the ramp and a seasonal overflow car park to alleviate car parking and traffic congestion during the peak summer period.
In December 2022, Better Boating Victoria released the draft concept plan for public consultation, supported by an on-line survey, which received 286 responses.
The majority of respondents supported the proposed waterside upgrades but didn’t overwhelmingly support the proposed seasonal carpark upgrade options.
Some respondents requested provision of a safe harbour or rock wall to address the impact of waves on the ramp. However, engineers have advised this is not a feasible option for St Leonards.
A significant number of responses were also received opposing the overflow cark as it would require the removal of a number of mature cypress trees to accommodate the car park. The mature trees are over 80 years old and near their end of life.
Following the analysis and consideration of feedback received through the public consultation process a final concept layout has been developed by Better Boating Victoria.
Click here to view a summary of consultation feedback.
A refined design has now been prepared featuring provision of wave screens along the central jetty extending seawards as well as an extended ‘T’ on the end that will also incorporate wave screens to provide shelter from onshore wind and waves. Two additional boat ramps are proposed to be installed as part of Stage 2 to ensure that a minimum of three boat ramps are always protected and functional for launching and retrieving during different wind directions.
Some additional changes are proposed to the existing carpark layout which are expected to assist with launching and retrieving including rigging bays, formalised pedestrian footpaths and re-positioned exit from the carpark. These changes will be progressed over the coming months as will necessary environmental and cultural heritage investigations and approvals. Following feedback from the pubic, a formal overflow car park will not be progressed.
Click here to view the final concept designs.
Click here to view the previous design.
Click here to view a wave simulation.
Better Boating Victoria and Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management will progress detailed designs and approvals to facilitate future construction. Construction will be subject to approvals.
Click here to view the new concept, finalised in February 2023.
Click here to view the previous concept.
For the latest project information including FAQs, click here.