A $4.5 million infrastructure project at Lakes Entrance has reached completion, restoring the iconic 130-year-old training walls to ensure safer passage for commercial fishing fleets, charter operators and recreational boaters.
Listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, the training walls form the crucial entrance channel connecting the Southern Ocean to the Gippsland Lakes port.
The state-funded works targeted two aging sections of the structure, stabilising rock faces and mitigating safety hazards to extend the lifespan of the historic maritime barrier.
Engineering crews excavated damaged rock, placed rock-filled stabilisation bags into the original timber frames, and placed large armor stone along the channel side to reinforce the walls against tidal forces.
Beyond maritime navigation, the training walls remain a prime vantage point for anglers and tourists observing local seal colonies, dolphins and marine birdlife.
The port infrastructure is vital to the regional economy. Recreational fishing across Gippsland alone generates more than $350 million annually for the state economy and sustains over 1700 regional jobs. Statewide, local ports contribute in excess of $900 million annually through commercial fishing, marine services and coastal tourism.
Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne said the completed upgrade ensures long-term security for local maritime industries.
“We’re supporting our offshore fishers, local anglers, and the community who use the port by future-proofing access to the port of Gippsland Lakes,” Ms Horne said.
Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh highlighted the ecological and practical benefits of the completed works for the region.
“Completion of these works has delivered a great outcome for one of Victoria’s most environmentally significant waterways, providing safer access for locals and visitors,” Mr McIntosh said.
