A project to upgrade a major water main supplying Lakes Entrance and district was completed on schedule, and, crucially, the worksite near North Arm boat ramp vacated ahead of the peak visitor period.
Residents and visitors in Kalimna and Lakes Entrance have watched the progress of the East Gippsland Water project, with the approximately 600-metre-long pipe snaking through Kalimna during some stages of the project.
From the primary worksite near Apex Park in Marine Parade, the pipe was pulled down through a pre-drilled hole under the Kalimna escarpment and North Arm waterway.
The total project cost was $3.5 million.
East Gippsland Water’s general manager sustainability and infrastructure, Neville Pearce, said the Lakes Entrance Water Main Expansion Project was critical to supporting service levels.
“We installed a larger water main than the existing pipe to service the forecast population growth in the region. Planning for long-term water demands is a key part of East Gippsland Water’s role,” Mr Pearce said.
“The works were scheduled to avoid the peak tourism period and our contractors were diligent in making any adjustments to ensure they were able to vacate the site by mid-December. Meeting this deadline was very important considering the main worksite was within the North Arm boat ramp carpark which has been very busy over the holidays.
“We’d like to thank all of our delivery partners who worked on this project, including key partners from GHD, Cape Dunstans and their sub-contractors including local company Albert DC. Their efforts ensured this project ran smoothly; including notifying residents when they’d be affected by works,” Mr Pearce said.
