The Waterwheel Tavern has been closed for the past 23 weeks, so there was much celebration when it reopened last Thursday, albeit with a very different concept. The tavern had been hoping to open earlier, but with the restrictions on how they could trade it just was not viable. So it is now The Lake Tyers Mini Mart and is stocked with fresh produce. Residents of Lake Tyers Beach and Lakes...

East Gippsland's positive COVID-19 case numbers doubled from three to six in the space of three days from Saturday. The new cases come as local doctors urge people with the mildest symptoms to be tested following a significant drop in testing numbers in the area since stage three restrictions were reintroduced. Bairnsdale Medical Group practice manager, Piero Baglioni, which operates the...

East Gippsland police have ramped up drug testing following an increase in people driving while under the influence of illicit substances. In the past fortnight, 14 people have been charged with drug offences and police will continue to target drivers affected by drugs. Operations Support Commander for the Eastern Region, Inspector Luke Smeaton, said the majority of offenders were in the Lakes...

At Wairewa the dams are overflowing, the creeks are running and the paddocks are green - a stark contrast to December and January’s drought and then bushfires. The scars of the bushfire still remain, but the Wairewa residents are busy re-establishing their properties and community. Local CFA members Julian and Leanne Davies say recovery is moving along going and the community is moving...

The Lakes Entrance community can now have its say on the design concepts and development of the Jemmys Point Lookout experience off Lookout Road. Plans for stage two of the project are very conceptual and now is the ideal time for the community to share their thoughts on this East Gippsland Shire Council-led project. Council’s general manager assets and environment, Fiona Weigall, said...