East Gippsland Shire councillors were out and about in Lakes Entrance last Tuesday, inspecting various projects and meeting with business and community groups as part of the second meeting of council to be held outside the Bairnsdale Corporate Centre for the year.

Mayor, Cr Natalie O’Connell, said the Lakes Entrance meeting on Tuesday evening was preceded by councillors and senior officers inspecting the Jemmys Point lookout site, touring the Lakes Entrance Fishermen’s Co-operative, Lakes Entrance Aquadome upgrades, which reopened on Saturday, and various site visits to projects and proposed developments.

“These tours and presentations gave another opportunity to gain on-the ground insight to various projects and learn of opportunities unfolding and challenges at businesses such as Lakes Entrance Fishermen’s Co-operative,” Cr O’Connell said.

“At our monthly council meeting in the evening we heard from Lakes Entrance Development Association chairman, Bruce Hurley, on the work the local group is doing to support the business community, enhance the town, lobby for infrastructure and promote the region.

“This presentation follows a number of discussions held with councillors and senior officers over recent months.”

Cr O’Connell said the update on the F.INC East Gippsland projects was well received by councillors.

“Andrea Lane stepped council through the origins of the Froute arts and culture movement, its role in hosting and promoting community arts events, promotion of our region in Melbourne to a wider audience, and of course the Float artist-in-resident project at Lake Tyers,” Cr O’-Connell said.

“These events, projects and promotion is certainly putting our region on the map with artists from near and far and we look forward to hearing of more successes in the years to come.”

Cr O’Connell said it was an opportunity for ratepayers to participate in the democratic process of council.

“We had a strong presence in the gallery and our live stream of the meeting on YouTube continues to enable people to watch the meeting’s proceedings at their leisure and more remotely,” Cr O’Connell said.

“Thank you to the businesses, community leaders and individuals who took the time to meet and present to council.”

The next council meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 25 at the Corporate Centre, Bairnsdale, at 1pm.

Councillors will be ‘on the road’ to Omeo on August 6 at 1pm and will visit Orbost for the fourth and final meeting outside the Corporate Centre for 2019 on November 12 at 1pm.

A meeting was held in Mallacoota on March 5.