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The Victorian Government is boosting accessibility to the National Water Sports Centre with improvements announced for the Patterson River Upper Precinct, which includes a popular 2000 metre boating channel and rowing water course.

The centre is used for a range of water-based activities, such as rowing, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking, coarse angling, jet skiing, radio-controlled yachting, boat shows, boat testing, and special training sessions.

$3 million is being invested for upgrades to pathways, the creation of dedicated viewing areas, vegetation, the design of a new multipurpose building and a feasibility study for a pedestrian bridge, as part of the Victorian Budget 2022/23.

The upgrades will benefit the National Water Sports Centre by making it more accessible and safer for the wide variety of its users.

Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio notes "our state has some of the most beautiful river frontages and we want to make sure these spaces are accessible to all Victorians.

“We’re revegetating riverbanks and creating pathways for people of all abilities to ensure the Paterson River and National Water Sports Centre continues to be an environment for everyone to enjoy.”

Patterson River’s Lower Precinct, also known as Launching Way, will receive $3.5 million for improvements and accessibility upgrades to pathways, boardwalk construction feasibility, picnic facilities, vegetation, and the design of new multipurpose building to incorporate commercial opportunities.

Funding for both projects is part of the Government’s $9.5 million investment into improving community infrastructure and sustainability.

Works were carried out at the National Water Sports Centre between 2019 to 2021 which included construction and installation of three pontoons, a model boat pontoon, construction of an underpass pathway and site drainage improvements.

Any upgrades or works at Patterson River will need to be sympathetic to the requirements for Melbourne Water’s flood protection scheme.

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