- Published on
By Catherine Watson
A PROPOSED walking trail between San Remo and Inverloch should turn inland for much of its length, according to an alliance of resident and friends groups.
The Yallock-Bulluk Coastal Alliance last week released its submission on the proposed Yallock-Bulluk walking trail, part of a new marine and coastal park promised by the Andrews Government before the 2017 election.
While the original promoters of the park probably envisaged a 50-kilometre coastal walk, the Alliance argues that walking along the coast between Kilcunda and Inverloch should not be encouraged or promoted as part of the walk, due to the fragile nature of the coastal vegetation and the rare birds that breed on the beaches.
A PROPOSED walking trail between San Remo and Inverloch should turn inland for much of its length, according to an alliance of resident and friends groups.
The Yallock-Bulluk Coastal Alliance last week released its submission on the proposed Yallock-Bulluk walking trail, part of a new marine and coastal park promised by the Andrews Government before the 2017 election.
While the original promoters of the park probably envisaged a 50-kilometre coastal walk, the Alliance argues that walking along the coast between Kilcunda and Inverloch should not be encouraged or promoted as part of the walk, due to the fragile nature of the coastal vegetation and the rare birds that breed on the beaches.
The alliance comprises the Kilcunda Community Association, Friends of Wonthaggi Heathland & Coastal Reserve, Harmers Haven Residents and Ratepayers Group/Friends of Harmers Haven, Cape Paterson Residents and Ratepayers Association, Peregrines Club Incorporated (Walking Group) and the South Gippsland Conservation Society.
They suggest the coastal section of the walk be confined to the section between San Remo and Kilcunda, incorporating the George Bass walk, one of the most spectacular walks in Australia.
From Kilcunda they propose the trail should follow the rail trail, linking at Mouth of the Powlett with the Desalination Reserve, using the existing shared pathway through to Williamsons Beach car park. From there the path could follow the existing slashed track below the wind turbines to the Baxter’s Beach track junction at the end of Campbell Street.
They suggest the coastal section of the walk be confined to the section between San Remo and Kilcunda, incorporating the George Bass walk, one of the most spectacular walks in Australia.
From Kilcunda they propose the trail should follow the rail trail, linking at Mouth of the Powlett with the Desalination Reserve, using the existing shared pathway through to Williamsons Beach car park. From there the path could follow the existing slashed track below the wind turbines to the Baxter’s Beach track junction at the end of Campbell Street.
Recommendations
- Minimise the impact of the trail on the coastal environment:
- There should be a net gain in vegetation and habitat as a result of the creation of the Park;
- There should be an increase in the area included in protected public parkland much of which should be revegetated;
- Existing coastal wildlife corridors should be preserved and where possible, extended;
- The track should not cut through narrow bands of rare remnant coastal vegetation;
- Where the track does go through existing vegetation, the track should be narrow, ie a walking track, not established as a fire break or vehicular track;
- Cycling, motorcycling and horse riding should not be permitted on walking tracks that go through coastal vegetation;
- No fires be allowed in any part of the Park;
- No new camping grounds be established, except potentially at the State Coal Mine in Wonthaggi
Yallock-Bulluk Coastal Alliance submissio
It could then cross the Baxter’s Wetland Reserve to rejoin the rail trail in South Dudley or cross to the State Coal Mine to join the beginning of an “overland route” beginning at the southern end of Carneys Road and following mostly unused road reserves to Inverloch.
The Bunurong Road between Cape Paterson and Inverloch is not appropriate for walkers, the submission argues. Using the road also increases the risk that people will attempt to walk along the beaches and inter-tidal rock shelf, with the serious risk of visitors unfamiliar with local conditions being swept from rocks or lost in dangerous surf. The coastal strip between these two towns is also very narrow and the geography not suitable for a path.
Their submission notes the groups have been involved in enhancing and protecting this coastal area for decades and offer to accompany project team members during on-ground visits to share their expertise and knowledge.
South Gippsland Conservation Society president Annette Read said that the society welcomed the new coastal park, and opportunities for people to enjoy it, but it was essential to get the right balance.
“The tricky thing is anticipating what visitors will do once the trail is created and how they will move through that space. If the trail gets close to the beaches, we know people will go off-track through the dunes down to the beaches. This would lead to damage to vegetation and disruption of the beach nesting birds sites.
“I’m sure they were thinking of a walk along the clifftops for the length of the trail but it’s really not going to work in environmental or financial terms. Making a coastal walk from Kilcunda to Inverloch doesn’t seem feasible.
“We’re hoping Parks Victoria and DELWP [Department of Environment, Lands, Water and Planning] will listen to the advice of many local people who know the area.
The Alliance notes that there is already considerable parking pressure at some areas of the coast in busy periods so the plan for the walking trail would need to consider how this would be dealt with when visitation numbers increased significantly.
The Bunurong Road between Cape Paterson and Inverloch is not appropriate for walkers, the submission argues. Using the road also increases the risk that people will attempt to walk along the beaches and inter-tidal rock shelf, with the serious risk of visitors unfamiliar with local conditions being swept from rocks or lost in dangerous surf. The coastal strip between these two towns is also very narrow and the geography not suitable for a path.
Their submission notes the groups have been involved in enhancing and protecting this coastal area for decades and offer to accompany project team members during on-ground visits to share their expertise and knowledge.
South Gippsland Conservation Society president Annette Read said that the society welcomed the new coastal park, and opportunities for people to enjoy it, but it was essential to get the right balance.
“The tricky thing is anticipating what visitors will do once the trail is created and how they will move through that space. If the trail gets close to the beaches, we know people will go off-track through the dunes down to the beaches. This would lead to damage to vegetation and disruption of the beach nesting birds sites.
“I’m sure they were thinking of a walk along the clifftops for the length of the trail but it’s really not going to work in environmental or financial terms. Making a coastal walk from Kilcunda to Inverloch doesn’t seem feasible.
“We’re hoping Parks Victoria and DELWP [Department of Environment, Lands, Water and Planning] will listen to the advice of many local people who know the area.
The Alliance notes that there is already considerable parking pressure at some areas of the coast in busy periods so the plan for the walking trail would need to consider how this would be dealt with when visitation numbers increased significantly.
Recommended Inland Walking Trail: Wonthaggi to Inverloch
Comments are closed.
A coastal path that hugs the coast will cost a bomb and render a wildness area accessible but offer little in the way of a link between the towns.
Now that the Nyora to Leongatha railway is finally being replaced with a rail trail The council and state government should consider extending the rail trail beyond Anderson and create a link. The beauty is that it’s all crown land and we have some outstanding bike trails in south gippsland already in place.
There are so many reasons to extend and link up the rail trails.
It’s also a great way for us to attract people to the area who will swap cars for bikes ... reducing the velocity of visitors, providing an opportunity for them to work up an appetite and spend money locally.
The coastal path sounds like more car /bus traffic to me. Not much in it for the local economy
Directing the hordes from Melbourne along the delicate foreshore of Harmers is eco-vandalism and expecting travellers to dodge the tides as they walk the beaches is negligence.
Stick to the path that's there, this isn't some eco-Disneyland, and why do we have to make every damn piece of nature accessible to everyone who needs to take a selfie next to some poor creature clinging to it's disappearing habitat.
I have never observed anyone doing the wrong thing on the existing iconic George Bass Coastal Walk. Neither have I seen people doing the wrong thing along the existing cliff top walk at Cape Paterson. The Prom coastal walks seem to cope well.
People aren't committing environmental mayhem along these paths. Quite to the contrary, it gives people a sense of awe and appreciation of the incredible natural beauty of the local environment. When we take visitors, they never cease to be amazed at how wonderful it is. They want to hear and learn more.
Coupled with informative signs (whales, dinosaurs, wrecks, coal, indigenous, flora, fauna, etc), a COASTAL walk would enhance the public’s environmental and historical knowledge, and encourage them to want to protect these even more.
A coastal path would have minimal negative impact if it was kept narrow. In addition, if signs were informative enough, they could encourage people to stay on the track (to learn more as they go) and providing beach access every kilometre or so would help to prevent the risk of people cutting through sensitive areas.
People who enjoy hiking holidays or long day walks typically care greatly about both environmental health and their own health. Nothing wrong with that!
Heaven forbid that we should attract eco-tourists to the magnificent Bass Coast - I'm sure small business would not only support it, but need it too.
So why all the scare mongering?
As for scare mongering I regularly see people defecating on the paths near the carpark. Leaving paper and or cloth as well as their excrement "on full display". Admittedly these are usually people who have come to the beach for the day or have just poached abalone on non ab days and are not "aware hikers" but it happens. By default if more people visit this, as well as other litter, will occur.
You only have to ride a bicycle on country roads and see the disgrace that is left on the side of the road to realise what grubs many people are and more people in these sensitive areas increases the potential for the same people to leave the same trail of mess.
I'm not touching the environmental impact as I believe that is a different matter.
I believe that is why there is, as you note, scare mongering. It's my opinion and I may be off the mark but just wanting to put it out there to hopefully answer your question.
Could it be that many of those who object to this coastal path are land owners who object to the general public accessing a narrow strip next to their properties? Horrors! Imagine tourists from Melbourne actually walking by their land!
Please don't be small minded and try to exclude others who want to experience our wonderful coastal scenery.
Was it small minded to save the Daintree? Small minded to say "don't climb Uluru?"
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As for Harmers, we own a house there. If there was more signage people would know what they are jeopardising by leaving the track. There currently isn't anything informative, just a tiny sign about eastern bandicoots at the start of the walk west to Cutlers Beach and some make shift poles and ropes to define some hooded plover sites. This initiative has the potential to fund additional measures to encourage people to be more mindful of the environment.
We love doing the Harmers-Cutlers beach walk (inland in one direction and on the beach in the other direction). It's a narrow, low impact walk through various habitats - extending this concept would be fabulous.
As would providing a narrow cliff top walking trail between Cape Paterson and Inverloch. Perhaps the reason why people try to traverse unsafe rock shelves between these bays is because there is no safe alternative to walk above the cliffs? You could slow the cars to 60 kph and widen the shoulder to provide a safe walking track. The wider shoulder would also improve sight distances and help assist drivers to see wombats/echidnas.
By educating people with a first hand experience, they appreciate it more and want to protect it.
Hugh's point about the coastal path in the UK merits further reflection.
In my experience it does not hug the coast everywhere and there are special legal provisions for erosion.
Bass has enough 'crown' land to make sensible plans for the 'hoards' and for those that want to move between the towns safely by bike.
I hope we can reach a solution soon because a solution is long overdue.