Ports Minister Luke Donnellan has responded to The Standard’s questions, saying Labor would undertake a massive shake up of the way boat ramps were managed and maintained.

He did not directly commit to funding or upgrades for the city’s dilapidated ramp. 

“We'll establish the Better Boating Fund to get to work immediately on urgent boat ramp upgrades - we've announced a handful, and there'll be many further announcements to make in the future,” Mr Donnellan said.

The government announced on Tuesday it would upgrade ramps and abolish boating fees if re-elected in November, however it did not detail plans for any upgrades to the city’s crumbling breakwater and launching facilities.

As fishermen from across Australia flock to the south-west coast chasing record-breaking bluefin tuna, the government said it would immediately upgrade facilities at Mordialloc, Queenscliff, Point Richards, Hastings and Rhyll, but not Warrnambool.  

It comes as Warrnambool’s ramp has been closed to boaters twice over the past month due to needing emergency repairs.

Warrnambool City Council has also been knocked back twice for State Government funding to implement safer launching facilities under the Boating Safety and Facilities Program.

Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell said her Liberal party had already announced similar election pledges. 

“I’m fully aware of the need to upgrade boating facilities in Warrnambool to take advantage of the huge economic impact recreational fishing brings,” she said. 

“Our Blue Infrastructure Fund announced in September will provide $27 million annually for infrastructure upgrades across the state.”

EARLIER: The Andrews Labor Government has announced it will upgrade boat ramps and abolish boating fees if re-elected in November, however it has not detailed plans for any upgrades to Warrnambool’s crumbling breakwater and launching facilities.

The Standard has asked Ports Minister Luke Donellan if Warrnambool's boat ramp, a State Government asset, will be upgraded under the plan.

Warrnambool’s ramp has been closed to boaters twice over the past month due to needing emergency repairs, which did not work the first time. This has infuriated anglers.

RELATED: Warrnambool City Council has advised the public boat ramp has been closed

Warrnambool City Council has also been knocked back twice for State Government funding to implement safer launching facilities under the Boating Safety and Facilities Program.

RELATED: Warrnambool misses out on funding for upgrades to city harbour

The Standard has asked the State Government if funding will be forthcoming under this election promise and is awaiting a response. 

If re-elected Labor says it will fix boat ramps, abolish all boat ramp parking and launching fees and make sure that every cent of licencing and registration fees is spent on boating safety and facilities.

It will establish a Better Boating Fund to immediately get to work on urgent boat ramp upgrades including at Mordialloc, Queenscliff, Point Richards, Hastings and Rhyll.

Premier Daniel Andrews said Victorian boaters already paid licence and registration fees, so they shouldn’t also have to pay local councils up to hundreds of dollars just to use boat ramps.

“So we’ll scrap these fees to make boating accessible for everyone,” he said.

Ports Minister Luke Donnellan said the boating community has told the State Government it needed better facilities.

“We’ve listened – this massive package of upgrades will be a game changer for recreational boating and fishing across Victoria,” he said.