February 22, 2010
The State Government has been accused of neglecting the need for investment in recreational boating facilities on the Gippsland Lakes according to The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.
Mr Chester has told Federal Parliament that infrastructure to cater to the increasing popularity of the Gippsland Lakes has largely been ignored by the State Government in the same way that it was ignoring environmental issues in the catchment.
“The State Government has dropped the ball in relation to the future management of the Gippsland Lakes in terms of both its environmental management and its infrastructure,” Mr Chester told Parliament.
“The system has become increasingly popular, recreational vessels are getting larger … but the infrastructure backlog is getting out of control.
“You can only wonder how organisations like the East Gippsland Shire Council and Gippsland Ports can continue to stretch a shoestring to try to accommodate the future needs of a very popular lake system.
“The boating community is demanding improved facilities in terms of jetties and wharves and boat launching ramps.
“The Labor Government is pouring money into recreational boating and foreshore facilities close to Melbourne and spending token amounts in regional areas like East Gippsland.”
Mr Chester also reiterated the need for a long-term commitment from the Brumby Labor Government to manage the environmental health of the lakes catchment.
“The environmental pressures upon the Gippsland Lakes are growing on an annual basis and last year there was no allocation whatsoever to the Gippsland Lakes taskforce in terms of ongoing funding,” Mr Chester said.
“Major work is required to address very significant signs of stress and it disturbs me greatly that we do not seem to have a commitment by the State Government.
“The Gippsland Lakes are the Great Barrier Reef of the south—they are so critically important to the future of the region, to the environmental health of the Ramsar wetlands and to the future of the tourism industry.
“Without the State Government taking a greater interest, I fear for the future of the tourism industry in the East Gippsland region and the Gippsland Lakes in particular.”