Saturday, 30 May 2015 11:12
Boating Industry Association of Victoria
Click here to read the full submission to the Victorian Government's Coastal Council Review.The Boating Industry Association of Victoria has called for bi-partisan support to establish a 'Blue Infrastructure Future Fund' to provide funding for the long term management of Port Phillip and Western Port.
A
major key to the proposal is the introduction of a Government Guaranteed Blue
Infrastructure Future Fund Bond, which would allow the opportunity for the community
and institutions to invest in a safe environment at a time of low interest rates
and help protect the future of Port Phillip and Westernport.
Steven
Potts, CEO, BIAV talks about the Blue Infrastructure Future Fund on YouTube.
Click here for the interview.
In a submission to the Victorian Government's Coastal Council Review, Steven Potts, Chief Executive of the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV) said, "The projected doubling of the population in the central coast area of Victoria, including Port Phillip and Western Port, from 4.6 million to nearly 8 million by 2050, calls for a new approach for funding to future proof the environmental, economic and social infrastructure of the jewels in the crown of Victoria".
"It is vital to consider the environment, access to water and the role of our coastal areas and bays in Victoria's economic and social fabric as important and irreplaceable parts of Victoria's infrastructure making future planning and management of the bays a high priority."
Mr Potts said that all of the various draft reports on the Draft Coastal Plan recognise this and many other issues which need to be resolved.
"However, the major issue facing coastal management and planning in Victoria is the lack of any substantial source of ongoing funding to address the complex issues of the future coastal management, the demand of increased population, and the ongoing environmental management of our bays and coastal interface."
"It
is vital that the coastal management review and action is backed up by substantial
funds and the establishment of a Victorian 'Blue Infrastructure Future Fund' is
a model we believe would have strong community support".
Left: Steven Potts, CEO, BIAV and BIAV Board Director, Gary Freeman on Port Phillip Bay
Mr Potts said the boating industry in Victoria is supportive of the current review saying it provides a major opportunity to put in place a long term sustainable plan for the future of Port Phillip and Western Port.
Media
Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Corporate Media Communications, BIAV - Mobile: 0417
329 201