Shellharbour's anglers are among the major beneficiaries of the NSW government's $5.4 million Better Boating Program 2013-14 allocation.
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Kiama MP Gareth Ward announced Shellharbour City Council had been granted $260,000 towards the upgrade of the boat ramp and to build a new jetty at the Shellharbour Boat Harbour.
Shellharbour council's allocation was the fourth highest of the 71 projects to attract funds through the scheme.
"The Better Boating Program is about funding local projects that make a big difference in improving boating facilities for the local community," Mr Ward said.
"It aims to make recreational boating facilities safer, more accessible and able to cater for increased demand.
"Under the program, the NSW government supports local councils, boating clubs and other agencies to upgrade and improve facilities at popular local boat ramps. The program funding includes revenue raised from boat registrations and licences."
Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said the grant was great news for Shellharbour's boating community.
"There are a lot of people in our area with small vessels that they store at home and this will give them better access," Cr Saliba said.
"Given so much of our area is on the waterfront it is great to see money being spent here, particularly as a lot of the revenue from fishing the government receives comes from people in our area."
Other projects to attract funds through the Better Boating Program included the recently completed extension of the Kiama jetty.
Funding towards the Kiama project included an allocation of $61,240 in the 2013-14 program, which came on top of the $212,500 the council received in 2012-13.
Kiama council was given a further $4287 for rubber D fendering on piles for the harbour's southern jetty.
Shoalhaven City Council got more than $210,000 for four projects including $30,000 towards an upgrade of the boat ramp at Greys Beach, North Nowra, where the ramp will be extended by one metre.
Wollongong City Council received $12,000 towards the upgrade of four existing security lights and new lighting in the car park at the Bellambi boat ramp.