Next LEBTA Board meeting: Monday November 28.  Shane Turner EGSC and Cr Jane Rowe will speak on future incident (Flood) management.  Agenda available:  Contact admin@lebta.com.au  

There will be no LEBTA board meeting in December 2011.

Previous Board meeting was Monday 26 September.  The October meeting was the AGM.

AGM – 24 October:  Elections for 8 board positions and executive positions held.  Tony Fredericks was re-elected President.  Vice-Presidents: Dale Sumner and Russell Chester.  New board members are David Fayolle – Workways, Alison Brewer – Kick back Cottages and Shane Berry – LE Bowls Club.  The board consists of 15 business operators who represent a cross-section of Lakes Entrance business and tourism industries.

Next EGRBTA meeting on Wednesday 23 November.  AGM to be held.  Guest speaker is  James Archibald – Destination Gippsland.  Further Information: Tim Ellis EO EGRBTA.   This will be Tim’s last meeting as he has a new position with Regional Development Victoria.  A new EO is currently being sought. 

Heritage Race Rally Cars:  Rally starts on Saturday 26 November in Myers Street at 9am.  Hopefully local businesses will open early to cater for the competitors and spectators.  It will take 2 hours to start all vehicles as they each leave 1 minute apart.  See posters in shop windows.

Landcare:  Thursday 24 November.  Presentation on reptiles of east Gippsland.  Mechanics Hall, Lakes Entrance.  7pm.  Further information: Colhquoun-North Arm Landcare

Cycling Tourism:  Last week a forum on Cycling Tourism was held with 50 particpants.  This forum was the basis for the production of a Cycle Tourism Strategy for East Gippsland.  Businesses with an interest in cycling (accomodation, clothing, repairs, sales etc) are welcome to contribute to the strategy. Further Information: Liz Mitchell, Orbost. 

Cycling events:  Several LEBTA members will meet with the Shire on Thursday 24 Nov. to discuss cycling events for 2012. 

Tourism Students:  Swinburne University Tourism Students are touring East Gippsland this week to examine tourism in coastal towns.  Monday – Wilsons Prom, Tuesday-  Lakes Entrance, Wednesday – Mallacoota, Thursday – Merimbula.

Lakes Entrance Foreshore Management Plan has been adopted by the Shire.  The plan identifies $15million worth of changes and improvements.  Funding is now being sought. Further Information: EGSC or DSE.

Visitor Information Centre review:  The draft report is being finalised for the council to consider.  Actions and outcomes will be made public soon.  More information: John Munns.

Sustainability Assessments:  Several Lakes Entrance Businesses were assessed free by a VECCI specialist last week.  This gave LEBTA members the opportunity to consider ways to reduce their power bill and carbon footprint.  Further Information: VECCI.

New Video:  Destination Gippsland have produced a new 1 minute promotional video to be shown in Melbourne over Summer.  The video captures the vast sand dunes of Pt. Hicks.  Video is on You-tube. 

Fishing Competition:  This great event is currently being  finalised for early 2012.

Sea-Farers Multi-cultural Festival:  Tickets are available for the feast on Friday night.  Skipper Pete has donated the Lakes-Explorer on Saturday to run free 20 minutes trips around the harbour.

Future of this website:  This volunteer website is run by LEBTA members for LEBTA members thus needs support from all members, both Board and general members.  One of LEBTA’s strengths is the ability to act as an information platform for various events, issues and projects relating to Lakes Entrance.  This website is available to engage and inform LEBTA members.  Information on events, projects and issues can be advertised on this website.  Please send information to editor Skipper Pete. 

Twitter:  As a way of keeping information flowing throughout the community, Skipper Pete has a twitter site (skipper_pete) thus is tweeting information about Lakes Entrance and his business.

Website Information: This LEBTA News Update (website) is uploaded once or twice a month.  Please supply any relevant information to  admin@lebta.com.au or peter@lakes-explorer.com.au