Warrnambool has missed out on funding for its long-awaited harbour and breakwater upgrades despite attempts by the city's outgoing council to ensure it was shovel ready.
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Hopes were high that $10.7 million worth of harbour and breakwater upgrades, as well as a new and safer boat ramp, would be successful in securing funding in the October and December state government funding rounds.
But the state government's announcement last week of millions in boating funding for other projects, dashed hopes that there would be any funding announcements this year.
The news has disappointed members of Warrnambool's boating community that feel the much-needed works were no further advanced than they were 12 months ago.
The outgoing councillors at its last meeting in September adopted a damning report into the condition of the boat ramp which they hoped would get the attention of those holding the state's purse strings.
But despite lobbying from the council, there was no money forthcoming from state coffers.
Councillors had also backed a $2.2m dredging plan in the hopes of securing a recurring funding deal in October, but that too was unsuccessful.
The council said it had sought funding from the Department of Transport which was fully aware of the projects' funding requirements.
Incoming infrastructure director David Leahy said an onsite meeting was already planned between Better Boating Victoria and the council early in the new year to discuss the works.
Last year, the government gave the council $700,000 to carry out the detailed design works for the projects, lifting hopes that eventually it would come good with the funding of a facility the council manages on behalf of the state government.
Fisherman Neville Dance said while he was disappointed he was still optimistic that something was going to happen even though he felt the project was "probably no further advanced" than where it was 12 months ago.
"The breakwater's important historically to Warrnambool but equally the boat ramp is important for tourist trade," he said.
Mr Leahy said there were opportunities from a state perspective for money to be spent on some of the launching facilities.
"There is going to be a fair infrastructure spend from the Commonwealth in the coming years by the looks of it. I'd be fairly keen to pursue any opportunities there and I think the state's going down a similar path," he said.
"I think it's an opportunity for places like Warrnambool to really capitalise on the opportunities there.
"There has been a considerable amount of dialogue around funding through the Department of Transport."
Mr Leahy said the council would continue to explore funding options around how to best progress works in the harbour.
"It's not within the capacity of the council to undertake it all. We manage the facility on behalf of the Department of Transport really," he said.
Council's harbour reference group member Rodney Blake said he was devastated for the local boating community that funding had not been forthcoming and felt they had been "lead up a path of years of inaction from the council".
"The breakwater remains a dangerous facility and the council are obliged to keep it in good working condition because they are obligated by the occupational health and safety laws," he said.
Mr Blake was also still critical of the former councillors' decision to support the Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning's preferred option to dump dredging soils back in the bay.
"It's an absolute waste of money. People who haven't worked in free enterprise, never managed a business, never worked anywhere else but a government department just don't understand they're spending our money and they don't care if they waste it."
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