To some it's a stinking cesspit, but to local artist and printmaker Susan Hall, the ephemeral Inverloch lagoon is a place of environmental richness and artistic inspiration.
By Susan Hall
HIGH tides at Easter have broken through at last flushing out the Inverloch lagoon which has been sand-locked for many months.
This area has been a great source of inspiration for my recent art work. It is a haven for sea birds that feed on the fish trapped there. Last week I counted five pelicans fishing. Pied oyster catchers and native ducks are among the many species feeding on the abundance of food in the still water. The green seaweed I had previously photographed has dried out forming a fabric type of coating, draping its mesh-like fibres over the rocks as the tide flows out. It’s also a great subject for photography and drawings.
As the recent hot sun dried the seaweed coating on the rocks, it has begun to peel off like a second skin. There may be unpleasant aromas occasionally due to the breakdown and renewal of plant life and coastal regeneration, all part of life on our beautiful coast. Good winter rains and big tides will flush it out eventually.
In the meantime it is a great place to walk and observe nature.
In partnership with the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and EPA Victoria, the council has engaged a consultant to investigate options, including the cost and viability of artificially opening the lagoon to the ocean.
HIGH tides at Easter have broken through at last flushing out the Inverloch lagoon which has been sand-locked for many months.
This area has been a great source of inspiration for my recent art work. It is a haven for sea birds that feed on the fish trapped there. Last week I counted five pelicans fishing. Pied oyster catchers and native ducks are among the many species feeding on the abundance of food in the still water. The green seaweed I had previously photographed has dried out forming a fabric type of coating, draping its mesh-like fibres over the rocks as the tide flows out. It’s also a great subject for photography and drawings.
As the recent hot sun dried the seaweed coating on the rocks, it has begun to peel off like a second skin. There may be unpleasant aromas occasionally due to the breakdown and renewal of plant life and coastal regeneration, all part of life on our beautiful coast. Good winter rains and big tides will flush it out eventually.
In the meantime it is a great place to walk and observe nature.
In partnership with the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and EPA Victoria, the council has engaged a consultant to investigate options, including the cost and viability of artificially opening the lagoon to the ocean.