Last week the president and secretary of Lakes Entrance Action and Development Association (LEADA) met with Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, to discuss infrastructure projects for Lakes Entrance.
Their discussion centred around three sites: the Slipway, Bullock Island and the East Gippsland Shire Council (EGSC) offices in Palmers Road.
Tim Bull expressed strong support for the development of these sites and said that he was currently making representations for this to occur.
President of LEADA, Bruce Hurley, said improvements to all three sites had been a high priority for the Lakes Entrance community for many years.
Tim Bull said the Slipway site had been a town eyesore for too long. He said the State Government had given the green light to develop the site and that action needs to be undertaken while this permission is still current.
“If there are no suitable proposals coming from the current process that is seeking private sector proposals to develop the site, then as a first stage the site should be improved visually and opened up to allow for passive recreation,” Mr Bull said.
“It is in such a prime location and its appearance has undermined the town’s confidence for 15 years,” Mr Hurley said.
Tim Bull said he understood that DELWP was willing to hand over the management of Bullock Island to the East Gippsland Shire Council while still retaining the responsibility for maintaining the seawall.
Those at the meeting felt this should allow low cost projects that were outlined in the Bullock Island Master Plan, such as picnic areas and walking and bike trails, to commence. The Master Plan was endorsed by EGSC four years ago in August 2015.
At the meeting Tim Bull outlined the plans for a $1.5 million seafood cafe for Bullock Island saying that the funds had been made available for this development.
The process of employing a consultant to make recommendations to the August council meeting for possible use of Palmers Road was welcomed by those at the meeting with the proviso that the community will be adequately consulted and any financial benefit gained from the site’s development go into a special fund for developing recreational facilities in Lakes Entrance.
Tim Bull and LEADA agreed to follow up with EGSC and other authorities the next steps for the development of the Slipway, Bullock Island and Palmers Road.
“It was a constructive meeting that hopefully will help progress the stalled development of these three key Lakes Entrance sites,” Mr Hurley said.
“A town meeting is being called by LEADA for May 2 at 7pm at the Mechanics Hall to discuss the progress on these and other key sites. All residents and businesses are welcome to attend.”
