Bullock Island Development, led by locals John Munns, Peter Jones and John Butler-Cole, which sits outside the Bullock Island Development Reference Group set up by council, has presented its own plans to council officials for further enhancements.

Mr Jones says the says group has a vision for long-term visitor attractions in passive open space, together with viewing opportunities of the Gippsland Lakes and ocean vistas which will provide increased visitation, economic opportunity, physical activity, relaxation, education and historical information.

“The idea of developing the island has been on the cards since at least the late 1990s, but with delays instigated by beauracracies/areas of responsibilities, matters were not resolved until earlier this year when the shire took it over,” Mr Jones, said.

“The $2.5m grant to the Lakes Entrance fishing co-op, road surfacing and the connecting bridge offers an opportunity, with works in progress, to get something constructive and beneficial to the communities of Lakes Entrance and East Gippsland on the books.”

Mr Jones said Bullock Island Development is open to variations and changes to its proposed theme, but not delaying tactics, that would miss the funding opportunities that present themselves as a result of bushfires and COVID-19. 

“The proposal and development could quickly reduce this severity by increasing visitor numbers, an all year round attraction, and be a future, long-term, must-see attraction,” Mr Jones said.

“Further, the development would create jobs and prosperity to the whole of East Gippsland.”

As part of the group’s detailed proposal, it wants to utilise the open space at Bullock Island as a landscaped passive open space with pathways, toilet facilities and suitable low-level salt surviving shrubs. 

The group believes in North Arm at the deep-water mooring just west of the fuel depot, an out of commission warship could be moored which can be accessed by the public.

“And at the deep-water mooring adjacent to LEFCOL In Cunninghame Arm moor a second out of commission warship or similar interest vessel (eg. Minesweeper/Frigate of similar), again open to the public,” the group says in its proposal.

Bullock Island Development wants to allow/lease hospitality businesses to utilise deck areas and galley areas of vessels for trade.

“The park could be a dedication to our veterans and provide a piece of living history and education to our youth and community at large,” the proposal says.

“The concept is new, different believed to be unique and will bring a much needed and centralised attractions to Lakes Entrance.

“It has a ready-made market being on the Sydney to Melbourne Coastal route together with its generic and long-standing visitor numbers. A new and exciting destination for Canberra and south-east New South Wales-based visitors. This provides for year-round tourism traffic. 

“Extensive opportunities exist for historical, museum, activity and hospitality trades, all within the bounds of the one concept yet are able to be individually operated each with its own appeal and target market.

“Increased visitation and interest will provide long-term increase in economic activity in the town.

 The group has designed a mapped layout of its proposal, which it has presented to council staff.

“The meeting was very convivial and in our opinion, positive,” the group said. 

“Bullock Island Development’s proposal was well received and it was made clear that we did not wish to disrupt or delay the current plans for Bullock Island, only present a tourist/visitor attraction overlay which we feel would create the must-see impact to bring visitors back in numbers. 

“As Ms (Fiona) Weigell (council’s general manager assets and environment) inferred in your article (last week) the goal was to increase tourism in Lakes Entrance/East Gippsland.

“Bullock Island Development stressed that our concern is to address services needed for our overlay would require a working of recently proposed to be constructed assets. 

“We also pressed views that the possible exhibits of the overlay plan added further dimension to the area without impacting open space and also that concrete/steel ground supports do not need to be full size of the exhibit especially in case of aircraft, thereby maintaining open space. Nevertheless the impact as a tourist draw card would be immense.”

Mr Jones said the number one objective of Bullock Island Development is “to have the shire and the current reference group recognise the potential of Bullock Island as a possible major visitor attraction for Lakes Entrance and East Gippsland”. 

“The level of community consultation could be questioned, as the steering group, has no one from the Lakes Entrance Business and Tourism Association on the group,” Mr Jones said.

“We would happily work with the reference group, with a view to broaden its perspectives and open its eyes to the huge potential being considered here.

“We are seeking to revitalise Lakes Entrance as a tourist destination with a spectacular addition to our varied regional offerings. MONA in Tasmania has been, probably in the past 20 years, the most significant tourist attraction in Australia. Why? because there was a vision supported by the thought: Build it and they will come.”

Bullock Island Development says council’s refreshed master plan makes the island “look like a park”.

“We only seek to have the planners think ahead and see that if other attractions are proposed that they incorporate those ideas now rather than digging up and adding to the overall costs at a later date,” Mr Jones said. 

“Put simply the current Bullock Island plans will not draw a single new visitor to Lakes Entrance or East Gippsland. So where is the benefit? If the shire and its reference group think there is a benefit then show it via feasibility study.”