Boating Industry Association of Victoria

The brand-new 2026 Hooked on Docklands Festival is approaching fast, and we’re excited to be a part of this inaugural event!

Held on Sunday 20 September at Harbour Esplanade, Hooked on Docklands contains something for everyone - whether you’re a keen fisher, seafood fanatic or family looking for a great day out by the water.

The Better Boating Victoria team will be on site offering updates on Victoria’s biggest ever boat ramp construction program.

We’ll also be running free ‘Boating Basics 101’ on-water clinics for beginner and novice boaters. The clinics will run every 30 minutes throughout the day and no equipment or marine licence is required.

Find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/boating-basics-101-on-water-clinics-tickets-1999078354171?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Clinics are fully booked. You can still register your interest and join the waitlist by emailing [email protected].

Come say hi at Hooked on Docklands! 🚤

Hooked on Docklands Festival
📅 Sunday September 20
📍 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands
🕒 10am-3pm
🔗 Find out more here: https://vfa.vic.gov.au/hookedondocklands

Always plenty of hot industry topics during a visit to Dunbier Trailers. Great to cover off on boating promotion, industry skills, and other topics with Murph and Renee. Then a stop to see the team at Port Phillip Boating Centre where Mackay Trailers sit nicely under the impressive fleet of Haines Hunters.

The houseboat aspect at Lake Eildon is amazing, as is the waterway and environment for boating! There’s a lot of great businesses working alongside and/or in support of the houseboats. Great to catch up with the team at , 5 Rivers Eildon, Eild Marina & Houseboat Hire, Maxwell's Upholstery, Lake Eildon Houseboats, Inferno marine, and Jerusalem Creek Marina & Holiday Park

Victorian boat building and repair has lots of amazing projects underway. It has been fantastic in recent days for BIAV to see just some of this high level work including at Matrix Houseboats, Concept Fibres, Composites Constructions Pty.Ltd., Inferno marine, The Houseboat Factory, Anchorage Houseboats, and Status Luxury Houseboats. Major benefit and value to boaters and boating, and even more importantly to jobs and the economy!

Recreational boaters and fishers can look forward to on-water access at Tarago Reservoir, with construction of the new boat ramp kicking off this week.

The project will see a new boat ramp constructed alongside a toilet block and parking for up to 10 cars with trailers.

Home to large wild brown trout and native blackfish, Tarago Reservoir is also a source of drinking water so only non-powered watercraft and boats with electric motors will be able to launch at the new ramp once completed.

To support the introduction of on-water recreation at Tarago Reservoir, Melbourne Water is developing a Recreational Area Management Plan and Waterway Rules. These measures are designed to support safe public enjoyment of the reservoir while protecting drinking water quality, safeguarding the natural environment, and minimising impacts on water supply infrastructure and operations.

Melbourne Water will also install on-water safety and water quality protection infrastructure at the reservoir, including buoy lines and signage.

Construction of the boat ramp is scheduled to take four months and be completed in late 2026, subject to permit approvals and weather conditions.

Learn more at https://betterboating.vic.gov.au/ramp-upgrades/tarago/

Plenty of great stuff happening in the Cranny/Dandy area of our boating industry. Sales, service and even a podcast studio at Mullies Marine. Great to see Danny and Dave there. As well as Andrew at Marine Creations / Spartancraft, Kris and the great team at Kris Oakley Marine, the team at Bar Crusher Boats, and a few others. Love seeing the BIAV member sticker when arriving too!