Ferry services between Portarlington and Docklands will continue for a further two years, following an increase in visitors to the region last year.
Last year featured an increase of 36 per cent in visitors to Portarlington from the previous year, with 677,000 people visiting the region, according to Tourism Research Australia data.
Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant said she was glad to see the service continued as it had become an integral part of the town and region since 2017 and carries close to 120,000 passengers annually.
“The Bellarine Peninsula is a great place to live and visit, recently coming 3rd at the Victorian Tourism Council Awards for Best Small Tourism Town,” she said.
“The Portarlington ferry plays an important part of the tourism economy for the Bellarine, as well as making the Peninsula a more accessible place to live and commute to Melbourne for work.”
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said more than 15000 passengers travelled on the ferry in the January summer peak, with the service still attracting thousands of passengers during the colder months.
“The Portarlington ferry is helping bring more visitors to the Bellarine, boosting local businesses and jobs while showcasing one of Victoria’s most popular coastal destinations,” he said.
The state government has invested more than $23 million in infrastructure to support the ferry’s operations, including works on the Portarlington harbour, pier, walkway and reef.
