Funds ramped up for better boating

Major upgrades are planned for boat launching facilities at Point Peron, with the City of Rockingham securing more than $500,000 State Government funding towards the works.

The City will revive $500,615 to install two new concrete boat ramp lanes at the Point Peron facility as part of the latest round of Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme funding.

Mayor Barry Sammels said the Point Peron boat ramp was the City’s primary launching facility and had been ear-marked for expansion for several years.

He said the upgrades would increase the capacity of the facility to cater for ongoing growth in demand for boat launching and retrieval facilities in the City.

Rockingham Volunteer Sea Rescue Group officer Craig Bryce welcomed the upgrades saying they were “long-overdue”.

He said the facilities had become rather “tired” in recent years given the amount of boaters using the launching facilities.

“Any upgrade or money spent on boating facilities is absolutely worthwhile,” he said.

The expansion of the Point Peron facility is expected to begin this financial year, with expansion of the car park identified for 2020/21.