Newlands Arm Open Space Plan

Thank you to all the community members who attended the onsite session and others who contributed to the Newlands Arm Open Space Plan.

Collated below is community feedback on ideas for the future planning of Newlands Arm. Some are within Councils authority whilst others are an advocacy role for Council. This feedback will provide direction on the community's priorities, giving context to issues and opportunities allowing Council to develop a strategic plan for future projects for this area.

Boat Ramp and carpark at Dawsons Cove

• Upgrade car park including surface maintenance, designated trailer parking, signage and line marking.
• Boat ramp to be lengthened and surface maintained to a better standard.
• Pedestrian crossing to be installed at boat ramp.

Recreational Facilities and Infrastructure

• Upgrade facilities at Dawsons Cove including extra shade, BBQ’s and play pieces to allow for greater abilities and ages.
• Increase facilities for older children, eg Tennis/basketball court, skate park/pump track.
• Increase kayaking facilities, including kayak racks and launching areas.
• Increase public amenity on foreshore including picnic tables/ seating and fishing platforms.
• Dawsons Cove green space to be activated.
• Review signage regarding no camping on foreshore.
• Develop a Dogs Off Leash area within Newlands Arm.
• Plan for a walking trail Dawsons Cove to Simpsons Park through to Bluff Head.
• Progress planning for Bicycle Track to Bairnsdale to Paynesville.
• Shade trees to be planted along foreshore.
• Plant Norfolk Island Pine trees at Dawsons Cove.
• Leave area as it is.

Environmental Concerns

• Monitor and report encroachment onto Crown Land by residents.
• Increase maintenance of tracks and trails including erosion control.
• Improve maintenance whilst protecting natural bushland at Trigg Point.
• Ensure preservation and protection of natural bushland at Dawsons Cove Point.

Traffic and Safety

• Explore dropping speed limits on Birrells Road.
• Maintain trees Butler Point Roundabout /centre median to enable masts to access masts.
• Maintenance of verge along Birrells Road and Meridan Way – impedes pedestrian access and restricts view lines.
• Construct footpath from Colony Club to Community Centre.

Other – advocacy role

• Community Garden/Health and Wellbeing sessions at Community Centre
• Designate an area for camping on foreshore.
• Explore setting up Kindergarten/Primary School.
• Fishing competition in Newlands Arm
• Install War Memorial.
• Review water speeds in Dawsons Cove.
• Buoys too close to foreshore, increase safety of water sports.
• Increase public transport to Bairnsdale.
• Improve internet availability.
• Increase public transport to Bairnsdale.
• Improve Internet availability

Project overview

Newlands Arm has experienced considerable residential growth and changing demographics in recent years and is increasingly popular as an access point to the Gippsland Lakes.

The quiet, remote setting is greatly valued, as is the natural foreshore environment, which possesses significant ecological and cultural features.

To meet the changing needs, we ask the community for their future vision and priorities for the town. This will help us develop an understanding of what is important to the community, and how we can best plan for these enhancements.

Feedback during the initial community engagement was used to identify a range of achievable projects that aim to enhance the amenity of the township.

Community engagement

We partnered with NARRA to hold an informal gathering on 30 November 2024 at the Community Centre. Ideas with suggestions of improvements, new ideas and general discussions about the future of Newlands Arm were submitted.

In March and April 2025, we presented the initial themes to the community and asked for input. Thank you to all who participated in this community engagement, the Ideas Page closed on 11 April 2025. All feedback is now being reviewed, subject to further funding opportunities to move forward with initial themes.

We welcome your continued interest in this initiative. Updates will be provided on YourSay in the tab below, when available. Please click 'Subscribe' at the top of the page to follow this project and to receive important information directly to your inbox. Should you wish to search for other projects near you, simply type the town name in the search bar.

Privacy and Data Collection Notice:

East Gippsland Shire Council collects your information to make informed community planning decisions for Newlands Arm open spaces, and seek funding opportunities.

We may share the information you provide on the ideas page or through community feedback sessions with Newlands Arm Residents and Ratepayers Association to develop an understanding of what is important to the community and how we can best plan for these projects. This information may also be shared in possible future grant applications to seek funding for these projects, and the organisations or Departments relating to those applications.

Our ideas page for this project allows you to supply feedback either by logging into your existing Your Say account, or you can post your ideas as a guest. While you may create an anonymous or non-identifiable screen name, which we encourage, if you select a screen name that can identify you, please note this will be able to be viewed publicly. Your email is required for posting as a guest and this information is managed by the site host, Granicus. You can review Granicus’ Privacy Policy via the Privacy Policy link at the bottom of this page.

For more information on Council’s Privacy Policy, please visit the EGSC Privacy Policy link at the bottom of this page or email feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au if you have any questions.