State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, looks over the progress at the new on water refuelling jetty at Paynesville and says the Government must continue investment into Gippsland Lakes infrastructure.

The need for the State Government to continue to fund important tourist and boating infrastructure around the Gippsland Lakes is critical, State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, told State Parliament this week.

Mr Bull highlighted a number of important projects that were funded under the previous Coalition Government and said ongoing investment was required, telling Parliament of some Gippsland Lakes’ infrastructure needs.

“From our time in Government I was well aware of the priority list and while we delivered much, there remain important projects and investment must continue.

“These include the need for additional berthing in McMillan Strait at Paynesville, the Johnsonville jetty and boat ramp redevelopment, the Nyerimilang Heritage Park jetty project and the upgrade of the Nicholson boat ramp jetty.

“It was pertinent to this week raise these and other projects further east at Bemm River and Mallacoota in Parliament as applications to the Boating Safety Facilities Program are currently being considered.

“Our region had a number of projects funded under the previous Coalition Government, many of which are presently under construction and this trend simply has to continue to keep pace with increased usage.

“Some of the works either recently completed, or are still under construction, that were funded by the Coalition were:
•    New on water re-fuelling facilities at Lakes Entrance and Paynesville,
•    A new public jetty at Cunninghame Arm near the footbridge in Lakes Entrance,
•    The doubling in size of the Metung main wharf, and
•    Boat ramp upgrades at Paynesville and Lake Tyers.

“Many of these were funded out of the Boating Safety Facilities Program and I have no doubt the government will have applications in for a number of the previously mentioned projects, and perhaps some others, so we need to ensure at least some are funded,” said Mr Bull.