The Labor Government has confirmed as part of its 2019/20 State Budget announcement on Monday it will provide $1.5 million in funding, in partnership with Lakes Entrance’s Fisherman’s Co-Operative (LEFCOL), to build a new on-water café at Bullock Island.

While the budget announcement was largely metropolitan-orientated, the Bullock Island café was not spared with the pre-State Election promise remaining part of Daniel Andrews’ great outdoors policy.

The café is part of a $4.5 million planned redevelopment of the LEFCOL site at Bullock Island, which was first pushed as a major tourism attraction by the Liberal Nationals Coalition last year, and would see the café sell fresh caught fish, a viewing area and waterfront decking built.

LEFCOL general manager, Brad Duncan, said the redevelopment will provide a significant tourism and economic boost to the town.

“We’re excited and thankful to receive the support of the State Government and we’re hopeful we can provide something unique that the people of our town can be happy and proud of,” he said. “Bullock Island has the potential to be a tourism mecca for Lakes Entrance and this is where it starts.”

The Bullock Island redevelopment is also part of East Gippsland Shire’s master plan. Meanwhile the State Government will invest $34.9 million to deliver phase two of its Target One Million recreational fishing program and the continuation of the Vic Fish Kids program. The government effectively ended commercial fishing in the Gippsland Lakes at the November election by implementing a buy out of remaining netting licences. As part of this, the government plans to increase fishing stocks to 10 million by 2022.