Bemm River

For immediate release — 5pm, Monday 29 May 2017

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The development of the Bemm River fishing platforms project has been initiated by the Bemm River Angling Club.

The Angling Club received a Victorian Government grant to install fishing platforms with the aim of improving access to foreshore-based angling in the Bemm River area.

East Gippsland Shire Council is not contributing funding to this project. We are assisting the Angling Club, with its selection of locations. The current request for feedback in relation to the proposed location and design of the third and final fishing platform is part of the assistance we are providing to the Angling Club.

The feedback received to date indicates that the proposed site may not be the most appropriate. As such, East Gippsland Shire Council will not be providing consent for the fishing platform to be constructed at this site.

We will continue to support the Angling Club to decide what it wishes to do with the remaining funds, which may include investigation of an alternative location for the fishing platform.

You are welcome to share this information with anyone who may have an interest in the matter.

Bemm River is best known for the recreational angling offered in Sydenham Inlet, with fishing being a major economic activity in the town.

During poor weather conditions, boating on the Inlet can be quite challenging and potentially unsafe. It is important for anglers to have other options to boat based fishing.

We are planning to develop another fishing platform in Bemm River, which is close to parking and toilet facilities. This will give recreational anglers more fishing opportunities in the town, especially during times when it is unsafe to go out into Sydenham Inlet.

We hope to have the new fishing platform in place prior to the 2017 Melbourne Cup long weekend.

Before going any further with the proposed options, we would like the community’s feedback on the draft fishing platform design and site plan.

You can provide your thoughts about the proposed location and design by answering this short survey.

Feedback closes 5pm Monday, May 29.

Since our last update to you, we have called for tenders for the construction of the upgraded boating facilities at Luderick Point. Tenders close 12 noon, 12 April 2017. The detailed plans that form part of the tendering documentation are attached for information.

We are aiming to evaluate the tenders and prepare a recommendation for council consideration at the 6 June 2017 Council Meeting.

Prospective tenderers have been informed that construction must commence in July and be completed no later than mid-September 2017.

Dredging work is planned at the site at the same time as construction of the new boating facility.

The existing Luderick Point boat ramp and floating jetty will be closed throughout the construction period. We are aiming to retain public access to the nearby fishing platform and some of the parking area.

Further and regular updates will be provided once a contract has been awarded in early June.

Sixteen people engaged in the second phase of consultation for Luderick Point Boating Facility upgrade, which closed at 5pm, Monday 20 February 2017.

Results of the survey have been collated into a report that indicates what respondents consider are the important requirements of a new facility.

• A longer fixed section of gangway (63%);
• Positioning the accessibility hoist on the eastern end of the floating jetty (69%); and
• Aligning the new boat ramp with the existing road pavement (75%).

Gippsland Ports also provided feedback in relation to the shape of the floating jetty and indicating a preference for an L shape end towards the north.

A final design based around a dual lane boat ramp with a centrally located L-shaped floating jetty has been developed.

Download the consultation report or final designs below.

Final Designs (PDF 4MB)

February 2017 Consultation Report (PDF 1MB)

East Gippsland Shire received over 50 responses during the first stage of consultation for the Luderick Point boating facility. This consultation phase was open from Monday 7 November to Friday 2 December 2016.

As noted in the consultation report, we received overwhelming support for a new facility that has:

• Improved accessibility in a wider range of weather conditions (90%);
• Dredging of the immediate boat ramp area (71%); and
• Construction to occur from mid-June to mid-September (83%).

We invite you to comment on the final design options by viewing the plans and answering a short survey.

Feedback closes 5.00pm Monday 20 February 2017.

Thank you to members of the community who provided feedback to the recent survey for the Luderick Point Boat Ramp and Floating Jetty. Your contribution is sincerely appreciated.

Results of the survey have been collated into a report that indicates what respondents consider are the important requirements of a new facility. In summary, survey responses identified the greatest preference for a new facility that has:

• Improved accessibility is a wider range of weather conditions,
• Dredging of the immediate boat ramp area is required, and
• Construction to occur from mid-June to mid-September.

A high number of respondents also indicated the importance of being able to access both sides of the floating jetty during calm conditions and for the floating jetty to have a T-shaped end.

What are the next steps?

A draft design based around a dual lane boat ramp with a centrally located T-shaped floating jetty will now be developed and the community will be asked to provide feedback before the final design is developed. For a summary of the full survey result please download the Community Consultation Report.

Given the success of recent survey a similar online consultation process will be used to gain feedback on the draft design once it is prepared.

People that signed up to receive further information will automatically receive information regarding the draft design as soon as it is available, which is likely to be by the end of January 2017.

Feedback on the draft design will also be invited via council’s standard processes of informing the community of the consultation via our website, local newspapers, email newsletter and the engagement portal.

Feedback from the community is currently being sought regarding the design of the new Luderick Point boating facility.

The objective of the survey is to determine what people believe are the important design characteristics for the new facility. Three design concepts with various attributes are included as examples of a potential design and demonstrate a range of options including: position of the floating jetty, configuration or shape of the floating jetty, and angle of the new dual lane boat ramp.

Survey feedback will be used to guide the development plans of draft plans suitable for the next stage of internal and external consultation. The main components of the new facility will likely include a new dual lane boat ramp, floating jetty, dredging and solar lighting. Specific design detail will be determined at the draft and final plan stages. Comments on the draft and final design will again be sought from the community and agencies in early 2017.

Once the design is finalised the Shire will undertake a public tender process for the construction of the new facilities. It is anticipated that the construction of the new facilities will occur during the winter months of 2017.

Emergency Management

The Shire has recently relocated the Emergency Screen to the new CFA shed and supplied indicator signage. We hope this will assist with emergency preparedness.

Flood Mitigation

As part of our flood mitigation efforts we have recently installed a live gauge on Bemm River Bridge on Princes Highway; and portable gauging at Dolly’s Garden to ascertain flood heights this will assist with future planning.

We are also working with East Gippsland Water to have a river height gauge installed closer to town and to have river depth visual signs installed at the Bridge.

In June 2015, Bemm River was involved in a community consultation regarding Waste Management.

In March 2016, residents received a letter outlining the changes to waste services in Bemm River for the 2016/2017 year which included information about:

• the waste facility staffing,
• hours of operation peak and off peak,
• the proposed facility upgrade and expansion of the service to incorporate recycling,
• additional town waste bins, and
• gate fees and charges.

Council Officers will be holding an information session for Bemm River residents regarding the draft Waste Transfer Station design planned for Bemm River.

This will provide an opportunity for community members to view the design and ask any questions they may have. The consultation will also provide a platform to raise any concerns, issues or feedback in relation to the waste facility operations and acceptance of different types of waste.

All residents have been sent a detailed letter about the Information Session.

The information session will held from 10.00am-12.00pm, Monday 22 August 2016 at the Bemm River Community Centre at 12 Roberts Road Bemm River.

If you have any queries in relation to waste management, please contact: Michelle Kearns – Waste Education Officer or Kartik Venkatraman – Manager Waste on 5153 9500.