Repairs will be made to the Eastern Training Wall on the water at Lakes Entrance.

State Government funding will see an upgrade of the breakwater wall at the entrance to make it safer for locals and visitors.

Minister for Ports and Freight, Melissa Horne, announced $780,000 last week for the works, which will help secure access through Lakes Entrance.

The entrance channel between the training walls provides access for the offshore fishing fleet and recreational boats to the port of Gippsland Lakes.

The training walls are also accessed by locals and visitors, including fishers, anglers and tourists.

“We’re delivering this vital upgrade to the Lakes Entrance Eastern Training Wall to make sure it’s safe for locals and visitors now and into the future,” Ms Horne said.

“By supporting and future-proofing access to the port of Gippsland Lakes, we’re backing our offshore fishers, local anglers and tourists who use the port every year.”

The training wall upgrades build on the investment in Lakes Entrance’s dredge, the Tommy Norton, that has been operating since 2017.

The Tommy Norton continues to deliver safe and reliable ocean access for the thousands commercial and recreational vessels that cross the Lakes Entrance bar every year.

Member for Eastern Victoria, Jane Garrett, said the repairs will ensure “Gippsland’s waterways are safe and accessible to locals whether you use them for work or recreation”.

Local MP, Tim Bull, is pleased funding for upgrades will be delivered.

“Earlier last year I had the Shadow Minster down to inspect the wall and it was to be prioritised if we were elected. That did not happen, so having raised the sea walls again in parliament, it is pleasing the funding has been provided,” Mr Bull said.