Take a walk along North Arm

North Arm, the Back Lake or the lower reaches of Mississippi Creek, call it what you will, but like its big brother the Front Lake, North Arm has an amazing and varied number of sights to see. If you are not up to the length of the walk along the front lake try the back lake for size. Flat easy going mostly paved and with a couple of opportunities for refreshment and a sit down overlooking the water. It is also cycle friendly for the two wheelers.

Theraputic, restful, relaxing, interesting and ever changing.  We will start our walk from the end of North Arm where it meets Reeve Channel and from there the waters exit into Bass Strait. This can be accessed by crossing the highway bridge and talking the pathway down to the waters edge.

Boredom Busters; Omeo and Ah Fong's Loop - a day trip.

Livingstone Creek Omeo and the Oriental Claims make a great day trip even in winter and after the relaxation of isolation restrictions due to the CoVid19 virus crisis. It is a welcome foray into clean fresh air with room for the kids to burn off energy and to have a picnic/bbq on site. The drive to Omeo is in itself a great drive with plenty of places to stop along the way for refreshment.

Suspension bridge accessing Ah Fong's Loop Walk from Car Park

Boredom Busters - Photography - Gippsland Lakes

Lakes Entrance is ideally placed to enjoy a number of scenic and panoramic views. Many (and I am one of those), enjoy watching the ocean from Bullock Island especially since its upgrade. But there are more views from Kalimna Hill, an area which includes the top of the hill itself (where the first new lookout is under construction) and higher from Jemmy's Point at the end of Lookout Road, and hopefully where a major viewing platform will be built. Another favourite is from the area opposite the Kalimna Hotel. Hope you enjoy this selection. 

Towards Barrier Landing from Jemmy's Pt.

Lakes Entrance Business celebrates 100 years in operation - Congratulations.

On December 15th 1919, a company commenced operations in Lakes Entrance and, I would wager, not even thinking that 100 years later, that same company would still be in operation and still fully owned and operated by the same family. An icon of Lakes Entrance and indeed Gippsland, if not Victoria when it comes to cruise boat operations Peels Tourist & Ferry Service Pty. Ltd. celebrates 100 years of operations today. 

Congratulations to the Peel family

Thunderbird

Where is Jemmys Point ? – perhaps not where many think.

Great news, announced today (March 9^th) that funding ($750,000) from Federal funds has been approved with matching funds to come from East Gippsland Shire, to provide visitors and locals alike with a new lookout. This is well overdue and will be a great asset to Lakes Entrance. It is exactly the sort of project which will enhance and improve general tourism in the area from which we can all benefit.  It will put us more firmly on the map, (yes people still use real maps), provided of course that the projected lookout is located in the right place!

View to Metung from Jemmys Point.  Copyright John Munns

Model World Maffra at Gippsland Vehicle Collection

Many will know my distinct liking for all things vehicle and boat, many of which have and still do get me in all sorts of bother with...you know who! I can usually stave off most of the bother with a good lunch (another one of my weaknesses !) and last Sunday was no exception. Lured by a visit to the Gippsland Vehicle Collection at the Maffra Shed by the Jaguar Car Club, (the good old Pommie stuff), we took a trip to Maffra.

People Power Paddle Boats...Well done and many thanks to all.

Never ever underestimated the power of the people and social media. 

Well done Lakes Entrance!

Paddle Boats are back too.........Great news !!

What a great week, with two of our towns iconic businesses being re-opened. Ferryman's Cafe on Thursday and I am advised that the Paddle Boats just over the Footbridge will be re-opening very soon having finalised the necessary paperwork today. All that has to be done is to return the boats and equipment to the site and check all the safety gear. Watch out for the big open signs, my best bet is by next weekend !

Ferryman's Cafe Re-opens - I am a happy man !!

I am indeed a happy man, my favourite haunt  Ferrymans' Seafood Cafe re-opened this morning at 11am., after a long absence, in fact since April last, and just in time for the pre-Christmas and busy summer trade. 

Ferryman's Floats once More

Lakes Entrance Paddle Boats - the truth

My last post on this issue was filled with uncertainty due to a lack of information. Since then I have done some research and investigations which I feel should be made public.                                 
Here I am simply stating THE FACTS from my extensive investigations and despite some very (in my opinion) misleading, doubtful and antagonistic press and "official" comment. After the facts will come some comment and some suggestions as to where we go from here.

Hope to see this again soon

So here are some facts:-

Does the owner/operator of Lakes Entrance Paddle Boats (LEPB) wish to continue in the business to provide this iconic attraction to the region?  - YES

Bitumen and Dirt ( B. A. D.) Drags - on again

The second weekend of December will see B.A.D drags visit the Gippsland Motorplex for the second annual event.  Now don't be alarmed they are not really bad,.... powerful, spectacular, awesome machinery certainly,  the  B. A. D.  simply stands for "Bitumen and Dirt Drags".

North Arm - surprising scenery

North Arm, the Back Lake or the lower reaches of Mississippi Creek, call it what you will, but like its big brother the Front Lake, North Arm has an amazing and varied number of sights to see. If you are not up to the length of the walk along the front lake try the back lake for size. Flat easy going mostly paved and with a couple of opportunities for refreshment and a sit down overlooking the water. Theraputic, restful, relaxing, interesting and ever changing.  We will start our walk from the end of North Arm where it meets Reeve Channel and from there the waters exit into Bass Strait. This can be accessed by crossing the highway bridge and talking the pathway down to the waters edge.

Attraction for Lakes Entrance - and its FREE!

Much has been written of late regarding a downturn in business and visitation in and around Lakes Entrance. Well here is an attraction and something to claim that is free for all and could I believe be the biggest in Victoria even perhaps Australia. What is it?, where is it? you may well ask.

Another Icon of Lakes Entrance Lost ...why?

Surely not Lakes Entrance Paddle Boats, but if many comments on "Facebook" are true this iconic business in Lakes Entrance is closing, but why? Rumors are, that the closure is due to a Shire edict, but this is as yet unconfirmed.

Are we losing our Floating restaurants in Lakes Entrance - why?

The rumour file is ripe around town that Lakes Entrance may well lose one if not two of our iconic floating restaurants. Tragic if true, and from a personal standpoint I will lose my Saturday morning haunt which I have been using for many years, and where one could always be assured of a good meal be it lunch or dinner.  Why, we may well ask.

Lakes Entrance, Dredging and recent Dredgers - Happy Birthday "TSHD Tommy Norton"

Many will well remember the April Hamer, a side casting dredge which worked on station at Lakes Entrance keeping the entrance open and navigable for many years. Without intervention, the sand would have closed the access to Bass Strait on many an occasion as is the case with Lake Tyres. 

April Hamer working at Bullock Island c 1997

April Hamer was Built at Carrington Slipways, Newcastle in 1976 as a small trailing suction dredger 

and worked year in year out in the main channel of Gippsland Lakes at its opening into Bass Strait at Lakes Entrance. It was owned and operated by Gippsland Ports.

Fishing Vessel enters Entrance when badly silted

Although on station throughout its life, apart from timely re-fits, the entrance was slowly but surely being blocked by the sand being washed into its mouth by tide and current flow from the lakes system often made worse by winds. This made it highly dangerous, indeed treacherous to navigate especially at low tide and had a huge impact on the fishing fleet, the largest in Victoria using Lakes Entrance as home port. The condition of the waters in the vicinity of the entrance was blamed for many a nautical mishap.

April Hamer at Sea

For the technically minded, April Hamer had the following dimensions; Length (OA):  39.37 m

Length (BP):  38.21 m Width:  11 m Depth:  3.64 m Draft (loaded):  1.76 m Number of engines:  2

Engine specs:  Caterpillar - D379TA - Str - cyl - - rpm Total power:  1722 kW Hopper volume:  841 m³ 

April Hamer from Bullock Island light

Perhaps not the vessel with the most pleasing lines, she was part of the town for 34 years and now part of the towns history having been replaced in 2008, (although stored in North Arm until 2011), now about 10 years ago since she worked the Lakes Entrance port scene. April Hamer, (named after Premier Hamer's wife), was of  interest to many  mariners and seafarers for the role she played for so long keeping the towns nautical traffic through the entrance open as best she could.

Wide beam, not the most pleasing lines !

After many years it was time to retire April Hamer, she was not able to keep pace with the sand in the entrance effectively, was old and in need of re-fit/repair.  Being a side casting dredge she was only able to move sand a comparatively short distance to either side dependent on tidal drift at the time. Enter The Pelican, a contracted Hopper Dredge, which, as its name indicates was able to suck up sand and place it out at sea to be swept away from the entrance by prevailing wind and tide.

Pelican with its namesake

The Pelican is a Hopper Dredge meaning that she was able to hold a large amount of sand in the hull then move well away from the entrance to drop it to the east or west dependent on the conditions at the time. For the technically minded; Vessel: TSHD Split-hull  Flag: NL  Owner: Van Oord NV.

Manager: Van Oord NV.  Built: 1979 Shipyard: Scheepswerf Stapel BV, now part of Vosta LMG.

(NB : TSHD Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge)

Pelican enters Reeves Channel on first trip

The Pelican was often seen in the main channel as well as in the area of the entrance approaches removing the sand and maintaining a navigable channel. It did however lack some power when compared the April Hamer and so was limited from time to time due to prevailing weather conditions.  Length (OA):  62.62 m. Length (BP): 59.31 m. Width: 11.21 m. Depth: 4.27 m. Draft (loaded):  3.71 m. Number of engines:  2. Engine specs: Smit-Bolnes - 3DNL 150/600 - 2Str - 3 cyl - 19.00 x 35.00 - rpm. Speed (loaded): 10 knts. Total power: 1504 kW. Hopper volume: 965 m³. Dredging depth: 13.2 m. Dredging depth (extended): 20 m. Suction pipe diameter: 0.45 m. Number of dredging pipes: 1

Split hull clearly visible at bow

The Pelican was quite a sight when moored at Bullock Island with her distinctive split hull clearly visible at the bow, also used by many of its namesake for shelter from the weather. When working up the Narrows towards Kalimna Jetty she made an impressive sight especially at dusk. 

Impressive sight at dusk

It would be remiss not to mention The Kalimna, a purpose built smaller cutter dredge commissioned by Gippsland Ports to manage the sand transfer system in Reeve Channel and The Narrows since 2007.This dredge is able to connect to a sand movement system of pipes which can distribute the sand out to sea on either side of the entrance dependent of tidal drift etc. If too far from the pumping station she is often seen with a booster pumping station, moored when not in use in North Arm.

Kalima Cutter Dredge off Bullock Is.

The Kalimna and its booster pump unit was specifically built for the Gippsland Lakes and is able to dredge in locations not able to be accessed by larger vessels, also able to remove the sand from the area by way of the sand transfer system. (That is another interesting aspect of the area altogether).

Kalimna clearing main channel

While the Kalimna continued to operate successfully, The Pelican however after working the entrance for eight years was aging not too gracefully, and in need of replacement for a number of reasons, reliability, cost and effectiveness being a few. After much negotiating and political pressure monies were made available for a vessel to be built capable of successfully maintaining the waters of the Gippsland Lakes, and more especially the Entrance.

In October 2017 just one year ago the Chinese-built dredger, Tommy Norton, was officially handed over to its new owners, Gippsland Ports, and commenced dredging operations later that month.

The dredger arrived in Victoria in September 2017 and had been undergoing trials and training of Gippsland Ports staff before being officially handed over to its new owners.

TSHD Tommy Norton

Gippsland Lakes is home to Victoria’s largest commercial fishing fleet and services commercial vessels and offshore oil and gas suppliers, as well as being a popular recreational boating location. According to Gippsland Ports, the economic contribution to the region of the recreational boating and commercial fishing industries operating within and through the port exceeds $200m annually.

No Dredging = no Fishing = loss of $$

In order to maintain reliable access, regular dredging of Lakes Entrance has been taking place for more than a century. Tommy Norton is the latest in a long line of vessels undertaking dredging works in the area.

 Summary of dredging vessels at Lakes Entrance  

DREDGE NAME      PERIOD OF USE      TYPE OF DREDGE 

                          Wombat                       1879 to 1928                 Bucket Dredge 

                          Pioneer                        1906 to unknown          Suction Dredge 

                          Priestman                    Pre 1908 to 1963           Grab Dredge 

                         W.H. Edgar                  1922 to 1936                 Side Suction Dredge 

                         Paynesville                  1936 to 1963                 Suction Dredge 

                         Sandpiper                    1963 to 2005                 Cutter Suction Dredge 

                         Mathew Flinders         Circa 1970                     Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge 

                         April Hamer                1979 to 2011                  Side-casting Dredge 

                         Melbourne                   2006 to 2007                 Cutter Suction Dredge 

                         Kalimna                       2007 to present             Cutter Suction Dredge 

                         Pelican                         2008 to 2016                 Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge 

                         Tommy Norton            October 2017 current    Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge.

The Entrance on a windy day

On Tommy Norton's first birthday we should be thankful for all those who keep our entrance as safe as possible and have done so over so many years.

"For Those in Peril"

Footnote: Some of the above photographs, and many more local scenes are printed on canvas and on  display at Lakes Entrance Visitor Information Centre for sale. Any not on show can be ordered through this site. JM 

Sources: Gippsland Ports Info Sheet:   www.marinebusiness.com.au/news. :  info via dredgepoint.org.:  Ships Nostalgia.:  Photo April Hamer at sea: Trevor Powell marinetraffic.com.: Photos Copyright John Munns.: Photo Tommy Norton Marinebusiness.com.au

Lakes Entrance and its elephants !

 A couple of weeks ago I posted a question "Does Lakes Entrance stack up?" . Currently, the answer is unfortunately no. What can be done to solve this problem and to give the town a pathway back to the prosperity and vitality which it needs and deserves but which is self sustaining in the long term.

The many faces of the Entrance at Lakes.

The Entrance to the Gippsland Lakes at Lakes Entrance is a famous piece of water for a number of reasons. It has a history not all for the good of seafarers, and yet remains an iconic sight as you travel over the Kalimna Hill and gain a view over that small piece of water with a big reputation. To me it brings a sense of being back home especially after a long trip or a long period of absence. The view from the ocean also bring a feeling of homecoming especially for those who have been at sea for some time. So lets have a look at some of the many faces of the entrance itself.

Wide Angle from Jemmy's Point Tower