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Dredging has finished at Inverloch, but delays mean there is only a narrow window for revegetating the rebuilt dunes before summer.
Dredging has now finished at Inverloch and Hall Contractors are removing the temporary pipeline.
Re-allocation of sand to strengthen the western section of the renourishment is also close to completion.
The leader of South Gippsland Conservation Society’s Inverloch Coastal Resilience Project, Philip Heath, said the late completion of the works has squeezed the time available for the spring dune revegetation, with the anticipated arrival of a supercharged El Nino event over the coming months.
Around 7,000 cubic metres of sand is being trucked from east of the Surf Club to the west to meet the design intent at the most vulnerable section of coastline adjacent to the two Wreck Creek outlets.
‘It’s unfortunate that the timeline has had to be extended so many times, but it’s critical to the effectiveness of the works that this additional re-allocation of sand is completed to achieve compliance with the design prepared by DEECA’s consultants Water Technology.
“All things considered, it means that this year’s spring planting of the reconstructed dunes will most likely be of a more limited scope than originally proposed.”
Preparations are underway for the first planting, a community planting day at the Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Club from 10am to 12 noon on Saturday, September 26. The Surf Club will host a BBQ lunch for all participants.
SGCS President Ed Thexton said the change in timing necessitated a new plan:
‘We have quality plants of the appropriate species produced by volunteers at our local community nurseries. We have the right plants, but our timing is out, so to increase survival we need to adapt.
"We plan to install a watering system. It is one of the reasons that we have selected to plant around the Surf Club. The availability of water and after-care by the Surf Club will be critical to successful plant establishment.
"Success will require a whole community effort over the summer. So, if people are planting their umbrella or beach towel on the plantings, please politely suggest the many advantages of the remaining unplanted beach area.”
Ed said they would plant the dune densely. “A dense multispecies thicket will be the quickest way of reducing wind-blown sand into and around the clubhouse. The water and density will serve as a prototype to our broader plantings.
“In addition, of course, in the highly mobile environment of the dunes, this planting will be a start to rebuilding dune structure and partially replacing habitat lost over the past 12 years.”
The planting will be an opportunity to participate in the pioneering community-led, decade-long work initiated by the South Gippsland Conservation Society and supported by the community through the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club and the Inverloch Tourism Association.
For more information, go to Inverloch Coastal Resilience Project.