Fishers launching their boat or casting a line at Warrnambool’s historic port will be able to clean their catch undercover and at any time using a new fish cleaning table facility.
The new tables are big enough to handle anything from pinky snapper caught around Lady Bay to calamari off the breakwater and monster southern bluefin tuna caught offshore.
Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO Travis Dowling said the $180,000 project had been funded in part by the State Government’s $35 million Target One Million plan, to provide better facilities for recreational fishers in the state’s south-west.
“We are committed to installing new fish cleaning tables because we know great facilities are important to an enjoyable day with family in the great outdoors,” Mr Dowling said.
“Arriving home after a day on the water with fresh, clean fillets ready for the pan is easier for everyone and a sure-fire way to bond around the dinner table with the people you care about most.”
Four new tables and a shelter have been built near the breakwater at the port, easing congestion at the often-busy spot by replacing existing tables at the boat ramp.
The set of four new tables are under cover and have lighting and running water to make it easier than ever to prepare your catch without having to use the kitchen bench at home.
They are also located alongside car and trailer parking so fishers can stay conveniently close to their rigs and depart easily once fillets are bagged and on ice.
Each table is 240x75cm in size and the concrete foundation includes space for two more tables to be added in the future. They’re connected to mains water and sewerage to take wastewater and fish scraps away from the bay to ensure birds, seals and other animals don’t become reliant on the leftovers.
Target One Million contributed to the construction of the awesome-foursome fish cleaning facility to the tune of $80,000, while the Warrnambool City Council and Department of Transport each contributed a further $50,000.
Mr Dowling said the new fish cleaning tables at Warrnambool complemented several similar upgrades in the works across Victoria.
