Confirming Boating Priorities in East Gippsland
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CONFIRMING VICTORIA’S BOATING PRIORITIES East Gippsland betterboating.vic.gov.au EAST GIPPSLAND 2 betterboating.vic.gov.au BETTER BOATING VICTORIA: Identifying and prioritising your recreational boating requirements 1 EAST GIPPSLAND Introducing the Better Boating Fund The Victorian Government has established the Better Boating Fund. The amount going into the Better Boating Fund will be the equivalent of all revenue generated from marine licences and vessel registration. We are developing the Victorian Recreational We’ve analysed your feedback and consolidated Boating Strategy to provide an overarching it across eight districts across Victoria – this vision and plan to ensure our recreational document focuses on East Gippsland. We now boating priorities are identified and prioritised, need boaters to confirm boating priorities so funding is allocated accordingly when the so we can build this into a draft Victorian Better Boating Fund commences on 1 July 2021. Recreational Boating Strategy that we will seek feedback mid-year. We have started developing the strategy and have already consulted with key stakeholders We have highlighted the priorities you have and boating users to identify the priorities. identified as important and seek your feedback This public consultation took place between on the questions presented in each priority area. 29 January – 20 February 2021 via an You can complete these questions by visiting: online survey. engage.vic.gov.au/rec-boating-strategy WIMMERA AND MALLEE NORTH GOULBURN NORTH CENTRAL BROKEN EAST EAST GIPPSLAND SOUTH WEST PORT PHILLIP AND WESTERN PORT SOUTH AND CENTRAL GIPPSLAND 2 betterboating.vic.gov.au Overview of East Gippsland 2.2 million The East Gippsland region is comprised of 2.2 million hectares of land, lakes and coastal waters and The East Gippsland region is comprised covers about 10% of Victoria. of 2.2 million hectares of land The region contains wetlands, six declared Heritage Rivers, and many national parks and reserves. A large proportion (83%) of the region is public land, stretching from sub-alpine environments to the coast. East Gippsland’s region offers a variety of natural phenomenon including a unique eco-system found in Australia’s Coastal Wilderness, spectacular majesty of rugged mountains threaded through by the Great Alpine Road and a vast array of waterways that make up the The region consist of 6 declared Gippsland Lakes. The lakes system is considered Heritage Rivers the largest inland Lakes in Australia and is a very popular boating destination. 83% 83% of the region is public land, stretching from the sub-alpine environments to the coast The lakes system is considered the largest inland lakes in Australia 3 EAST GIPPSLAND Economic benefits East Gippsland provides an ideal place to mix business opportunity with quality of life that 47,316 people call home, supports 16,539 jobs and has an annual economic output of $4.948 billion. The region is situated between Australia’s two major commercial hubs and ports in Melbourne and Sydney and is rich in natural resources and brimming with economic potential. Lakes Entrance is the home of one of Australia’s largest fishing fleets, while Mallacoota is the base of a significant abalone industry. The Gippsland Lakes provide a major hub for tourism, particularly for recreational boating and fishing enthusiasts. Recreational licensing Age General and vessel analysis Above 80 There are 117,000+ licence 66 - 80 holders registered in the East 56 - 65 Gippsland district. 46 - 55 36 - 45 26 - 35 16 - 25 Restricted 12 - 15 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 General - Male General - Female PWC Endorsed - Male PWC Endorsed - Female Vessel types registered in this district, there are 8,000+ in East Open (60.8%) Gippsland district. Half Cabin (18.6%) Cabin Cruiser (9.7%) Personal Water Craft (4.5%) Yacht (Keel Boat) (3.1%) Trailer Sailer (2.6%) Hovercraft (0.4%) Houseboat (0.2%) Canoe (0.1%) 4 betterboating.vic.gov.au Existing access facilities There are more than 40 formal public recreational boating facilities located across the East Gippsland region. These facilities are for the most part managed by East Gippsland Shire, Parks Victoria and Gippsland Ports. Popularity Based on peak summer period, the Boating Vic website was analysed for ramp popularity with results as follows: Legend High Moderate Low Very Low Gipsy Point Karbeethong Mallacoota – Allan Dr Betka River Inlet Mallacoota Snowy R – Lochend – Allan Dr Bastion Pt Brodribb R – Old Marlo Rd Bemm River West Johnsonville – Punt Rd Nowa Nowa – Launching Rd Bemm River East Tamboon Inlet – Furnell Landing Nicholson Marlo – Beach Rd Tamboon Inlet Bairnsdale Marlo – Yacht Club Lake Tyres – Mill Point Rd Cape Conran Lake Tyres – Fishermans Landing Lake Tyres – Lakeside Dr Snowy R – Corringle (See Inset) North Arm – North Arm Eagle Point – Rivermouth Rd Apex Park – East Nungurner Eagle Point – Boat Rd Paynesville – Fort King North Arm – Fishing Club Paynesville – King St Metung – Shaving Point Paynesville – Esplanade Birrell Peninsula Raymond Island Inset 5 EAST GIPPSLAND Economic benefits Future demand East Gippsland As boating tourism continues to grow, pressures Throughout various discussions, supported by on existing boating facilities is likely to increase feedback you gave us in a public consultation and require improvements including upgrading that took place between 29 January – pontoons and jetties, formalising carparking, 20 February 2021, we’ve heard that the and ramp throughput during peak periods. boating experience needs to be enhanced. Additional moorings and berthings are also Improvements to recreational boating across required to provide added capacity during East Gippsland include the following: the peak season. Maintenance of facilities New facilities/upgraded facilities Facility renewal Berthing and moorings Access Marine search and rescue Boating safety and education Boating promotion 6 betterboating.vic.gov.au 7 EAST GIPPSLAND Maintenance of facilities A review of management of boating facilities identified the value of local knowledge that asset managers hold, and the opportunities around providing more support and improved funding options to asset managers. It is proposed Better Boating Victoria will lead improvements by providing additional support to asset managers and undertaking activities such as development of maintenance and design guidelines, and provision of additional funding for maintenance through the Better Boating Fund. 8 betterboating.vic.gov.au New facilities/upgraded facilities The demand for new facilities will continue to increase as the population grows, and as new waterways are made available for access. It is proposed that the following are considered for new developments including improved carparking, longer jetties/pontoons and extra ramp lanes to disperse bottlenecks that occur during peak launching and retrieval periods. Legend Proposed new facility Proposed overflow carpark improvements Proposed longer pontoon/jetty Proposed additional ramp lanes Lake Tyres – Nowa Nowa Brodribb R – Old Marlo Rd Cape Conran Lake Tyres – Mill Point Rd Marlo – Beach Rd Swan Reach – Tambo River Eagle Point – Boat Ramp Rd Lakes Entrance – North Arm Apex Park Metung Shaving Point Paynesville – Esplanade Paynesville – Slip Rd 9 EAST GIPPSLAND Facility renewal To improve the condition of our public boat ramps, a rolling program of renewals and upgrades is required. We have identified a program based on the condition of facilities and ramp popularity that is based on discussions with asset managers. It is proposed that public boating facilities around East Gippsland are renewed in order of the following priorities: Legend High Medium Low Current renewal Gipsy Point Karbeethong Mallacoota Betka River Inlet – Allan Dr Bastion Point Nowa Nowa – Launching Rd Snowy R – Lochend Bemm River East Bemm River West Tamboon Inlet – Furnell Landing Snowy R – Corringle Brodribb R – Old Marlo Rd Nicholson Tamboon Inlet Lake Tyers – Mill Point Rd Cape Conran Lake Tyers – Lakeside Rd Marlo – Yacht Club Bairnsdale Lake Tyers – Fishermans Landing (See Inset 2) Inset 1 Inset 2 Eagle Point – Rivermouth Rd Johnsonville – Punt Rd (See Inset 1) Eagle Point – Boat Rd Paynesville - Fort King Nungurner Paynesville – King St North Arm – East Paynesville – Sunset Dr North Arm Fishing Club Paynesville Metung – Shaving Point Esplanade Raymond Birrell Peninsula Island 10 betterboating.vic.gov.au Berthing and moorings Additional destination berths as well as moorings are required across East Gippsland, to continue to enhance the boating experience and reduce congestion during peak summer periods. Opportunities for public visitor berths should also be considered. It is proposed that opportunities to provide additional moorings and berthings are provided at the following locations: Legend Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Lakes Entrance Transient Berthing east of Bank Jetty Myer St Landing Mitchell River Lower Landing Cunningham Arm Bullock Island Destination Jetty in North Arm Cunningham Arm Footbridge - Surf Club Side Destination Jetty Paynesville Transient Berthing Squatters Row Barrier Landing additional Progress Jetty - Paynesville Raymond Island Public Jetty pontoon Jetty Raymond Island – Additional Destination Jetty Duck Arm Destination Jetty Steamer Landing Bunga Arm Emu Bight Destination Jetty Loch Sport 11 EAST GIPPSLAND Access Navigation A well-managed waterway assists in providing greater accessibility and equity of use to waterway users through the appropriate separation of