A series of family-friendly environmental activities is enlivening Lakes Entrance this summer as part of DEECA’s Summer by the Sea program, which combines creative expression with hands-on conservation learning.
The program officially began on Saturday, January 3, with a large-scale chalk pavement drawing at the Slipway Precinct, attracting families, visitors and curious passers-by throughout the day.
The pavement artwork, designed and drawn by local artists Sean Lockhart and Amy Allender, was facilitated by Catherine Van Wilgenburg in collaboration with FLOAT.
The project focused on the locally endangered Burrunan dolphin, using a detailed undersea scene to spark conversation about marine ecosystems and conservation. Parents and children were invited to take part by colouring sections of the mural, turning the artwork into a collaborative community effort.
The interactive nature of the project proved popular, with more than 40 children and their parents contributing
their own artistic touches over the course of the day. Many people walking through
the precinct stopped to ask questions, observe the process and ultimately
join in, creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere centred on local environmental awareness.
Summer by the Sea forms part of the broader Lakes Entrance Victorian Coastcare 2026 program and will continue over the coming weekends with a range of free activities designed to engage the community in creative and practical ways.
Upcoming events include Create Your Own Burrunan Dolphins Tattoo on Saturday, January 10, from 11am to 1pm at Slipway Shed 2. This will be followed on Saturday, January 17, also from 11am to 1pm, by an Australian Marine Debris Initiative Litter Pick-Up and Art Making session, meeting at the Lakes Entrance Footbridge,
with artworks later exhibited in Slipway Shed 2.
The program concludes on Sunday, January 18, with an iNaturalist App Immersion with Jess Bury on Nungurner Landcare, guiding participants in identifying local plant species in remnant Damp Sands Herb-Rich Woodland. This session runs from 11am to 1pm and meets at Merringbaur Street off Eastern Beach Road.
Families looking for something different to do over the summer holidays are encouraged to attend.
