FAQs - May 2021

Council is undertaking this project as it is clear that there is a need to update planning for this area and develop a concept plan that can be implemented and will support the important boating and lake access role that this site plays. The Paynesville Business and Tourism Association, has identified the improvement of the Slip Road area as one of their five top priorities for Paynesville, This work funded by   the Victorian State Government will enable this work to be undertaken..  The Victorian Government has also committed to providing $1.1M to upgrade the Slip Road foreshore and the Australian Government through the Regional Recovery Partnership has provided an addition $1M.  This will enable the construction of a new seawall south of the existing boat ramp and a boardwalk.  This means that the concept plan won’t be a plan that sits on a shelf unfunded.

The Victorian Government is funding this project.  The $250,000 grant for planning has been provided by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.  The Victorian Government has also committed the $1.1M to the Slip Road Maritime Precinct construction. The Australian Government through the Regional Recovery Partnership has provided an additional $1M to enable the construction of the seawall north of the existing boat ramp and the boardwalk.  In addition council were invited to apply to the Victorian Government for a further $4M which will enable the jetties to be installed and the second boat ramp at the northern end of the site.  Council are awaiting for the outcome of this  grant application.

The funding already committed by the Victorian State Government is insufficient to fund the full scope of the concept plans as described.  Should Council be granted the additional funding that has been applied for then the project will be fully funded.

The current funding provided to date is expected to fund planning and concept and detailed designs, a new seawall north of the existing boat jetty and a board walk.  Should Council be granted additional funding that has been applied for this will enable the construction of the jetties, new boat ramp at the northern end of the site, improved car parking, internal roads, shared pedestrian paths, landscaping, and BBQ spaces.  As part of the funding provided the existing amenity block has already been renovated and it is proposed to incorporate Aboriginal story-telling into the site.

Construction of the new seawall works will commence mid 2021.

Should additional funding be granted by the State Government as per the current grant application then more berths will be provided.  These will be a mix of annual, itinerant, valet and working berths.

Council undertook broad based community consultation on the project in December 2020.  The concept plan that was taken to the community is shown in the attachments on the Council website (concept plan version 1).  Also attached in the website is a document summarising the outputs of the community consultation.

The ideas that came from the community have enabled the concept plan to be significantly improved.   The original proposed bund was removed which made space for additional car-parking.  More car-parking was provided at the southern end of the site near the existing marina.  In addition a second boat ramp is proposed at the northern end of the site (originally it had been proposed to widen the existing ramp).  This additional boat ramp will enable more separation between the public and the marine services industry who also use the ramp.

You can get more information on the project by phone to the Project Manager Jenny Bailey who can be contacted on 0408 400 659 or jennybai@egipps.vic.gov.au

Council has established a reference group to guide the project.  Members of the reference group include:

The existing boat ramp will get some repairs.  It is proposed to construct a new boat ramp at the northern end of the site which will significantly boost the capacity for launch and retrieval of boats from the site.

A  similar amount of parking will continue to be provided, though there may be some changes and improvements to parking layout

It is not expected that any of the existing berths at Paynesville Boat Harbour North will be impacted by the works.

Some members of the community have expressed an interest in providing a crossing over the canal so that pedestrians can walk north along the foreshore from the Paynesville township to the Slip Road site and up to Gippsland Ports.  Such a crossing would be one of an openable bridge, a tunnel or a punt/ferry to ensure that boats could still access Mariner’s Cove.  Each of these options are expensive.  Council is currently undertaking a cost benefit analysis to determine if such an investment should be undertaken. This crossing is currently unfunded.  

In the meantime council is constructing a shared path on the north side of King Street and planning to upgrade signage and the lane surface to enable the trip for pedestrians and cyclists across the King Street Bridge more attractive and accessible.

It is not expected that any of the berths at Paynesville Boat Harbour North will need to be reallocated.

Gippsland Ports manage the berths in the vicinity of the project site.  Gippsland Ports are working closely with Council on this project.

The concept plan includes; widened boat jetty, provision for future vertical lift launching options and the provision of a ‘working berth’ where work can be done on boats at the jetty for low impact activities without having to slip the boats at Gippsland Ports.   There is ongoing communication with the business owners on the project.

At this stage no tenders have been let for the project, but the works will be undertaken by contractors managed through East Gippsland Shire Council’s processes.

There are no proposals to rezone any land.

Gippsland Ports has no immediate plans to seek a new tenant for the site.  Once upgrade works have been done on site Gippsland Ports may seek  a commercial provider of boat hire.  Provision in the plans has been made for such a facility.

There is no place for the Curlip within the redevelopment.  Council is currently working through options for the future home of the Curlip.