As Lakes Entrance swells with visitors over the summer there’ll be a new outdoor dining and arts experience available to them at the Old Slipway site.
The Slipway Collective was given the go ahead following an expression of interest process undertaken by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Gippsland Ports and East Gippsland Shire Council.
“The opportunity for the Lakes Entrance business community to capitalise on this fantastic space through a relatively low-cost redevelopment of this special site, sits at the heart of the reason the Slipway Collective was successful in its application,” DELWP regional manager land and built environment programs Gippsland, Carole Macmillan, said.
“The redevelopment is expected to provide local businesses with an opportunity to operate their ventures during the day and evening trading hours.”
Works will begin soon, with the reactivated Old Slipway set to officially open in time for residents and tourists to enjoy over the coming summer season.
The Old Slipway will operate during peak season between December and April.
The Slipway Collective is made up of Sam Mahlook, of Miriam’s Seafood Restaurant, Sallie Jones, of Gippsland Jersey, Gab and Chris Moore, of Sailor’s Grave Brewing, Andrew Collier, of Seasalt Bakery, Andrea Lane and Lenny Hayes, of FLOAT, and John Keeble, of Event Studios Australia.
“Collaboration has been our mantra throughout our brainstorming and planning process,” the Slipway Collective said.
“As a group of passionate local entrepreneurs we couldn’t bear to see the site in the heart of Lakes Entrance sit vacant for another summer.
“We all want to see Lakes Entrance prosper and we think we have the energy, networks and momentum to make that happen during the peak tourist season and far beyond. We think it will be contagious.
“Of course we’ve met on site more and more as the plan has taken shape, but the team’s ability to collaborate on paperwork in real time has been an exciting display of great teamwork.”
