Boating Vic

About Boating Vic

What is Boating Vic?

Boating Vic is a website and mobile application to help boaters, paddlers and personal watercraft (PWC) riders get prepared before heading out on the water.

Why was Boating Vic created?

Boating Vic was created to provide waterway users with the relevant information to assist them to prepare for heading out on the water and returning home safely.

How does Boating Vic help users get prepared?

Boating Vic helps users get prepared by bringing together the right information on recreational boating, from the right agencies into the one place.

It also features: the largest list of ramps in Victoria, ramp cam vision across key locations, comprehensive localised weather information, warnings and notifications, facility information and safety advice.

Who created Boating Vic?

Boating Vic is brought to you by Maritime Safety Victoria and Better Boating Victoria, in partnership with the following organisations: Victorian Fisheries Authority, Parks Victoria, Victoria Police, Victorian Ports Corporation (Melbourne), Emergency Management Victoria and the Victoria State Government.

Ramp cameras

What locations currently have ramp cams?

At October 2021, the Boating Vic network had grown to 28 cameras at the following 25 locations:

• Rye
• Geelong Limeburners Point
• Clifton Springs
• St Helens
• Altona
• Patterson River
• Hastings
• Kananook Creek
• Olivers Hill
• Mornington Schnapper Point
• Safety Beach
• Stony Point
• Corinella
• Point Richards
• St Leonards
• Torquay
• Port Welshpool
• Queenscliff
• Indented Head
• Mordialloc
• Rhyll
• Werribee South
• Inverloch
• Lake Nagambie - Regatta Centre
• Warrnambool - Lady Bay

The following are planned ramp cam locations for the remainder of 2021 and early 2022:

• Barwon River - Ocean Grove
• Brighton
• Gippsland Lakes - Paynesville King Street
• Half Moon Bay
• Inverloch Light - bar crossing camera
• Western Port - Newhaven
• Newport/The Warmies
• Sorrento

When will more camera feeds be available?

Over the coming months we’ll be working hard to bring more ramp cameras to various locations across Victoria. Follow Maritime Safety Victoria on Facebook or Twitter to keep up to date with the roll out, or subscribe to our Shipshape newsletter.

Why aren’t the ramp cams a live feed?

The photos are automatically updated every five minutes by the ramp cameras. The images are to give an indication of how busy the ramp and carpark may be and are displayed at a resolution not to reveal boat ramp user identities.

Will cameras be used for compliance?

No, the camera photos are updated every 5 minutes and we do not retain the photos.

The cameras do count how many launches are occurring every hour (no other data is captured about the launch beyond the number) and this data is shared with other agencies for usage analysis.

Why doesn’t Boating Vic host all ramp cameras in Victoria that are provided by other government departments?

We’re in the process of getting permission to host ramp cameras owned by other government agencies on Boating Vic.

Why doesn’t Boating Vic host all ramp cameras in Victoria that are provided by other agencies?

At present, due to privacy laws, we can’t incorporate privately owned cameras into Boating Vic. We’re looking at ways we can accommodate this in the future.

Boating Vic app

Is the app free?

Yes, the Boating Vic app is free to download and there are no in-app purchases.

Does Boating Vic use my mobile/wi-fi data?

Yes, Boating Vic uses data.

Can Boating Vic be used offline?

Currently Boating Vic cannot be used offline, but we’re working on ways to allow this in the future.

Account

Do I need to create an account?

No. You can use Boating Vic without creating an account, however creating a Boating Vic account allows users to customise their experience.

What are the benefits?

As a registered user, you can pin your favourite ramps to your homepage for a more streamlined experience. You can also specify your vessel type and interests, so that Boating Vic can display the most relevant information.

Privacy

Is my information secure? Who can access it?

You can read the Boating Vic privacy policy and website disclaimer online.

What do you do with my information?

De-identified information will be collected to help us get a clearer picture of boating behaviours and track trends on the app.

Do any third parties or other government agencies have access to my data?

No third parties or government agencies other than Maritime Safety Victoria have access to your data. Occasionally, we provide deidentified data to our content partners (e.g. Better Boating Victoria, Victorian Fisheries Authority, Parks Victoria) and local councils/waterway managers to show how many page visits certain ramps receive, or how many launches there have been at a particular location.

Do you track my trip on the water?

No, we don’t track your trips.

Feedback

How do I provide content/photos to Boating Vic?

We welcome updated info and images for our ramp pages! Send us an email at contact@boating.vic.gov.au.

How do I report an error or give feedback?

To report a camera error, click ‘Report a camera problem’ on the ramp page.

To report other errors, or provide feedback, send us an email at contact@boating.vic.gov.au.

How do I provide feedback about boat ramps or other facilities?

For feedback on boat ramps and other facilities, please contact Better Boating Victoria and the facility and waterway managers for the relevant waterway. This contact information can be found under ‘Further information’ at the bottom of the ramp page.