Are you ready to apply for a Better Boating Program grant?

If you’re thinking of applying for a grant from the NSW Maritime Better Boating Program then now is a good time to start planning.

The program is a State Government grants program that provides waterways infrastructure for the benefit of the boating community and marine sector on New South Wales waterways.

Projects funded include the provision of public wharves and jetties, boat ramps, sewage pump-out facilities, dinghy storage and related feasibility studies.

Among the grants awarded from the 2010/11 Better Boating Program were:

• $49,500 to the Red Rock Coast Trust for the upgrade of the existing boat ramp access road and car/trailer parking at Red Rock; and

• $19,000 to the Yarrie Lake Flora and Fauna Trust for the Boat Ramp Access Area Upgrade project at Yarrie Lake, Narrabri.

The BBP, which has up to $5 million available each year (for a five-year period until 2013/14) consists of three funding categories:
• Regional Infrastructure Grants (up to $2.5 million a year);
• Sydney Harbour Boat Ramps (up to $1.5 million a year); and the
• Sharing Sydney Harbour Access Program (up to $500,000 a year).

Applications for Regional Infrastructure Grants are generally called for at the beginning of June and close at the end of July every year so start preparing your application now to ensure you have plenty of time to meet the deadline.

For further information regarding the BBP please visit the NSW Maritime website at www.maritime.nsw.gov.au, send the BBP team an email on grants@maritime.nsw.gov.au or contact NSW Maritime’s Infrastructure Grants Manager, Lisa Anderson, on (02) 9563 8748.