The Slipway is a 5,400 square metre Crown land site in the centre of the Lakes Entrance township fronting directly onto the Cunninghame Arm waterway. The site operated as a slipway from 1948 through to 2005, when operations were transferred to a new Bullock Island Boat Yard facility. It has remained largely unused for the past 15 years.

Redevelopment of the Slipway site was identified as a priority action in the Lakes Entrance Foreshore Management Plan 2012 and the more recent Lakes Entrance CBD Masterplan. It was noted as being a high-profile site that has potential to accommodate a range of attractions, facilities and services.

Project Scope

This project included the design and redevelopment of the iconic Slipway site located on the Esplanade in Lakes Entrance. The redevelopment has reinvigorated a key piece of infrastructure and deliver a public asset for the next 20 to 30 years and enhanced the visitor experience, encouraging visitors to stay longer and return. The Slipway site has become an inviting public open space in an idyllic waterfront location, providing space for hospitality and arts enterprises, and local community groups and friends and family to gather.

The redevelopment works were limited to the following items:

• Installation of a tiered deck over the existing concrete slipway to create a waterfront public space.
• Minor renovation of the two historic winch sheds to enable safe public use.
• Construction of public access amenities including compliant ramps.
• Resurfacing of the existing bitumen hardstand area.
• Upgrade of onsite power.

The concept for this redevelopment was included in and approved through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process advertised nationally in 2018 by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). The successful proponents of the EOI were “The Slipway Collective” – a working group of local arts and business representatives. The design of the redevelopment is in-keeping with the Slipway Collective’s activation proposal for the site.

The Concept Design for the site is available in the documents section.

Funding

Funding for this project was provided by the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and the Arts - Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program Phase 3, Victorian Government Local Economic Recovery (LER) Program – Bushfire Recovery Regional Economic Stimulus and Resilience Grants Fund, Creative Victoria, and COVID Safe Outdoor Activation Fund, and East Gippsland Shire Council.

Media Releases -

  Tuesday 14 February 2023

  Tuesday 9 February 2021