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Future Marina Directions Report To Be Released

At its meeting last night, the East Gippsland Shire Council voted to release its draft ‘Strategic Overview and Directions’ paper for Marina activities for public comment

By East Gippsland Shire Council - 16th December 2004 - Back to News

Council also resolved to make the report available to Gippsland Ports, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Gippsland Coastal Board, Metung Yacht Club and Paynesville Motor Cruiser Club as well as other organisations and people interested in making a submission.

A comprehensive template that details options and considerations will guide the process and council plans to adopt a final strategy for stages One and Two in March 2005.

A report prepared by Group Manager Commercial, Chris Barlow said Council’s role in marina and water based activities is important given the natural features which are central to the Shire’s character.

"In the past these facilities have played a low-key role and issues, including asset management, have been allowed to ‘bubble along’," Mr Barlow said.

"There are a tremendous amount of day to day management issues that arise with this activity let alone planning for future involvement and development.

"The report attempts to bring these issues together and develop a framework within which Council can better improve its short and long term focus while adding to tourism, economic development, employment and recreation."

Mr Barlow said the key issues were:

  • Expansion of Slip Bight Marina for which design plans are underway.
  • Rebuilding the Metung Marina.
  • Implementing new and improved operational and management requirements.
  • Implementing dry berth opportunities.
  • Determining long-term commercial development opportunities and partnerships.
  • Implementing improved communication, planning and liaison with peer groups.

"The strategy implies that Council needs to reconsider the traditional way it is involved in marinas and establish them as a core, stand alone, self funded business," he said.

"To assist in achieving this outcome it is suggested current assets be restored and that a tender process be conducted to determine the most appropriate organisation to manage day to day operations allowing Council costs to be reduced.

"Over this period a fee review will also be conducted which will assist in determining the true waiting lists for berths."

Mr Barlow said the draft report suggests that these facilities must be funded by users and not be supported by general ratepayer funds that are insufficient to deal with core local government functions.

Under National Competition Policy, the marinas will be required to make a return to Council general funds and these issues will be addressed in the fees and charges review to be presented early next year.

Council decided in December 2003 that it wished to remain in the marina business.

Mr Barlow said the report suggests how this can be achieved and at the same time improve facilities and achieve an adequate dividend to Council.

He added that capital improvements at Slip Bight Marina already planned in the current year’s budget will be funded by advance berth "sales."

Councillors passed a resolution that Council -

- Releases the ‘draft strategic overview and directions paper for Marina activities’ for public comment

- Makes a copy of this report available to Gippsland Ports, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Gippsland Coastal Board Metung Yacht Club and Paynesville Motor Cruiser Club and any other organisation or person who may be interested in making a submission;

- Adopts a first strategy for Stage One and Two (of the following template) in March 2005 following receipt of public comments:

Stage 1, Current Facilities - Short term: Council will be responsible for the expansion and remedial works to be undertaken at these marinas. This does not necessarily include funding. Forward sales of Slip Bight marina berths to be managed and evaluated by Council

Stage 2, Operation – Intermediate: Prepare an Expression of Interest for the possible role of a third party in marina management and administration; develop Service Agreements to operate the service including Council approved Management Plans including, but not limited to: public consultation, daily operations, inspections, bookings, berth allocation, fee collection, six monthly meetings, monthly reports, vessel quality, unused vessels, unused berths, dollar return to Council

Stage 3, Capital expansion – Long term: Currently there is a disjointed approach top capital works and new marina development and this should not be permitted to continue. Accordingly there is an urgent need for a coordinated approach across all responsible agencies to develop a balanced and viable strategy that will ensure that there is not a propagation of commercial marina development that would lead to the loss of both land and water based recreational aspects of the Gippsland Lakes and surrounding townships.

A strategy be developed and jointly agreed by the following agencies: East Gippsland Shire Council, Gippsland Ports, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Coastal Lakes Management Board

- Develops Terms of Reference for public exhibition and comment as well as a balanced strategy for the future development of commercial marinas that does not detract or destroy land and water based recreational areas of the Gippsland Lakes and surrounding townships."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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