Lakes Entrance's iconic Bullock Island put to the sword

As a Facebook contributor put it “ What have they done to Bullock island ? I think it is a maze of pine posts with limited parking what’s your thoughts..”   The responses included… “Building Donald Trumps wall; Waiting for them to grow; It’s to stop the crabs pulling tourists into the lake; Bloody confusing; Shire must have shares in pine factory”. I could go on with many more adverse comments.

Light hearted in some ways, I am all for a joke, but what has been done is past a joke. Let’s look at this from another perspective. Bullock Island desperately needed an upgrade, not football pitches please, just a clean-up, the provision of some basic amenities and the road kept flat and easily accessible for all. Access to the water’s edge for parking and fishing etc.

                                               

I commend those who pushed for the area to be cleaned up, but what seems to have been done is as far as I am concerned not what the public (locals and visitors alike) wanted or needed.  Bullock Island has for years been a little oasis, indeed an icon where many locals come to “get away from it all”, to enjoy a little “time out”, visitors likewise come to view The Entrance, and the goings on in and around Cunninghame Arm where it joins The Narrows.                                                                                                                          
They come in all weathers, rain, hail, wind or shine, they are happy to enjoy the view, an uninterrupted view, as they choose to sit in their vehicles parking close to the sea wall and looking out on the water, the entrance itself and the ocean beyond. I have spent many hours there myself, and have seen many enjoying the pleasure of sitting next to their vehicle enjoying a picnic, overlooking the water. Indeed some of the residents from a local aged care facility enjoying the simplicity of the view from their transport or from a chair next to it.
                                               
Many come to net for crabs and enjoy the family experience with their vehicles close by for safety and for protection from the weather. They bring their entire families with them adding to our tourist dollar, and this location is well known within their communities as the place to go for crabbing.
                                               

What has happened is in my view, and I am advised, that of many others, (have a look on Facebook – Lakes Entrance Chatterbox) is a disgrace. The works have taken away from locals and visitors the enjoyment of sitting in their car with a clear and unobstructed view watching the entrance. A simple pleasure enjoyed by thousands of locals and visitors alike. Great for tourism, I don’t think so, good for locals definitely not.

                          

I will leave the explanation to the photos of the site taken on 12.4 2018, suffice to say, no longer can you park, sit in your car and enjoy the ocean view, no longer can you reverse close to the sea wall in Cunninghame Arm and fish or crab with your gear in the car, no longer able to enjoy the warmth of a take-away coffee in winter (well all year round really) in your car (out of the weather) with an uninterrupted views of The Entrance and beyond, no longer able to sit and watch the dolphins play, the seals feed and the birds amaze us with their aerobatic ability. Need I continue, I think not.                                                             

This concept of simple pleasures is an obviously unknown, unexperienced, and/or under researched concept by our Shire Council with DELWP and any other of those who managed the pre planning process and agreement to proceed with this ruination of a Lakes Entrance icon.  What were the planners thinking, where did they think they were planning for?, not Lakes Entrance that is for sure.

Not all can park their car and walk to the water’s edge, not all want to park their car and walk to the water’s edge, and now no-one can park their car close to the water’s edge for whatever reason.  A ruination of a great tourist opportunity, another opportunity lost due to fuzzy thinking and egghead planning and failing to listen to the community. When will they learn?                                                                                                  
Now before I am accused of not exploring all aspects, the condition of the sea walls may have something to do with this, BUT and it is a big BUT, why not simply allow parking looking out onto the water as close as is deemed safe by the so called experts and bounded by all those pine poles (sourced from sustainable forestry I trust). As it is, the parking has been removed to the back blocks seemingly without consideration for the average user.  I have been a regular user of Bullock Island for over 20 years and the walls haven’t walked away yet.

                     

 Did they not take notice of the feedback provided by locals, NO of course not. This is a process commonly known as "ENGAGEMENT". It means, let the public think they have a say, provide a website feedback form, hold a couple of drop in sessions, all good warm and fuzzy stuff, and then totally ignore what is the feeling of the community, or what is really needed in the location. It used to be called Community Consultation, it means the same but the new buzz word sounded so much better!?

This situation can and should be changed without delay, and although a few chainsaws would do the trick, that is neither legal nor advisable. Those who made the decision should and must be held to account and Bullock Island returned to a great icon of the region.

Last but by no means least, if the powers that be can stuff up Bullock Island as badly as this, I am seriously concerned for the so called “engagement” and attention to public feeling for the Esplanade/Myer Street plans.  

John Munns April 2018