Improving the boating experience for all Victorians includes having well maintained public boating facilities. That’s why we’re reinvesting recreational boaters’ registration and licence fees into the 2024-25 Recreational Boating Structural Maintenance Program.
Grants of up to $75,000 will support organisations that manage public boat ramps across Victoria to repair and maintain facilities so that boat ramps remain functional and safe.
Eligible projects may include repairing boat ramp surfaces, jetties or pontoons, improving parking areas, minor works to breakwall structures and maintenance of other boating infrastructure. Full funding guidelines can be accessed via this link.
The previous round of the program supported 19 grant recipients who delivered 26 projects to improve boating across inland and coastal Victoria, from Nelson in the state’s west to Mallacoota in the state’s far east.
Applications are now open to eligible organisations for the latest round of grants. This is made possible thanks to the reinvestment of boating licence and vessel registration fees through the Better Boating Fund. In the 2024-25 round of grants, a total of $500,000 in grants is available. Applications close at COB on Monday 14 July 2025.
Click here to apply for a grant via our SmartyGrants portal.
The grants program will be overseen by the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Better Boating division, which is progressing the state’s biggest ever boat ramp construction program and ensuring launching and parking remains free at all of Victoria’s public ramps.
A Funding Advisory Panel consisting of government and industry stakeholders will assess the grant applications received against the funding assessment criteria and provide recommendations to the Minister for Outdoor Recreation.
Eligible organisations consist of local councils, committees of management, catchment management authorities, water corporations and state government bodies. An eligible organisation may submit multiple applications for consideration.
Click here to apply for a grant via our SmartyGrants portal.
Full funding guidelines can be accessed via this link.
Applications close at 5pm on Monday 14 July 2025.
For further information please contact the team at Better Boating Victoria –
