Funding for Port of Apollo Bay

Published on 16 September 2019

Colac Otway Shire Council welcomes funding for Port of Apollo Bay

Colac Otway Shire Council has welcomed the State Government’s funding announcement of more than $1.35 million which will allow the dredging and other important upgrades of Apollo Bay Harbour.

Colac Otway Shire Mayor Jason Schram said Council could now carry out vital work which would enable Apollo Bay to potentially expand as working harbour and increase recreational boating and tourism opportunities.

“Council has been strongly advocating for funding for the Apollo Bay harbour and we are pleased to receive a commitment of $1,353,500 from the State Government which will cover the cost of dredging, repairing the slipway winch and preparing detailed designs for the repair of the breakwalls.

“The harbour dredging project will involve shifting around 60,000 cubic metres of sand which has accumulated over the last twenty years and massively reduced access and function of the harbour.

“Two-thirds of the harbour will be dredged to a depth of about 3.5 metres – a harbour depth that we haven’t had since the 1950s,” he said.

“The build-up of sand inside the harbour has consistently been identified the biggest issue at the Port by the harbour users and boating community, will allow us to increase the number of moorings and berths,” he said.

Colac Otway Shire Council agreed earlier this year to continue managing the Port of Apollo Bay, which provides a $43-million economic benefit to the community, for a further three years following a service review detailing risks and opportunities.

“Council recognise the benefits the Port of Apollo Bay brings to the town and to the region,” Cr Schram said.

“Dredging and other upgrades will have a significant flow-on effect in terms of increased accessibility for current harbour users, visitation from itinerant vessels, recreational yachts and demand from fishing vessels.

“We will continue working closely with the community to implement further improvements to services and infrastructure which will benefit commercial and recreational port users.”