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Not too coastal: alliance

30/7/2020

19 Comments

 
PictureThe coastal section of the walk should be confined to the George Bass walk, extended to San Remo
​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.

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.
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.
Picture
Recommended Inland Walking Trail: Wonthaggi to Inverloch
19 Comments
Yvonne McRae
31/7/2020 04:28:00 pm

The Alliance is spot on. The 'somebodies' sitting in their ivory tower offices, looking at a desk top map, and thinking, 'This would be great. Look at that strip of vegetation along the cliff tops visitors would have great views,' Never considering that people would access the beaches onto the rock platforms and some would be caught out by the tides. Once the tide is rushing in the 'gutters' in the platforms become rushing torrents, and even mountain goats would find scaling the cliffs almost impossible - disaster WILL happen. The Alliance plan also means any walker having a health difficulty could be accessed by emergency services easily on their proposed trail. Hopefully the 'planners' will listen to local 'experts', and not go along with some hare-brained City scheme. The danger to birds, small mammals, reptiles and our precious coastline should be uppermost in the planning. Who remembers when the scheme was mooted (years ago) for the outfall from the Inverloch Sewerage Scheme to be pumped over the cliffs near Flat Rocks? I remember being involved with that fight. I remember my submission renamed the locations - Crap Rocks, Eagles Mess and Point Shite. Roll on Brave New World!

Reply
Edward
31/7/2020 06:53:11 pm

A couple of years back Councillor Brown advocated that the rail trail be extended from Wonthaggi to Inverloch. Very good idea as it will improve safety and access for walkers and cyclists for moderate cost.

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.

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Neil Rankine
1/8/2020 01:58:06 pm

Yes, when I was on council some 5 or six years ago we started work on this shared pathway linking Wonthaggi and Inverloch. A lot of work has been done identifying where vegetation is too valuable and needs to be bi-passed, fundamentally it's the sensible and not too difficult option.

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Edward
3/8/2020 09:41:56 am

Thank you Neil. My mistake for not mentioning the longstanding work by council on the Wonthaggi to Inverloch bike/walking trail . 

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

Peter Ghys
31/7/2020 08:09:04 pm

Nah, can’t agree. A walk close to the coast (and preferably along the beach at low tide) is what will bring people.

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Cr Geoff Ellis
31/7/2020 11:49:15 pm

I agree with every single recommendation of the Alliance. The Rail Trail through Kilcunda is already being diverted through the Lionel Rose car park as that dune gets washed into the sea and the town is over run with wayward tourists hunting coffee on any sunny day.

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.

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Sue Saliba
1/8/2020 12:06:17 pm

Well said, Geoff. The very idea of this plan fills me with horror.

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Liz Glynn
1/8/2020 07:33:48 pm

Hear, hear!!

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Georgina Day
19/10/2020 07:48:31 pm

Why are you being so derogatory and negatively targeting “the hoards from Melbourne”? This comment is divisive and entirely short sighted. This walk could be a State-significant coastal trail, drawing people from all regions and potentially interstate.

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?

Reply
Gordon Shumway
29/4/2021 10:57:40 am

I can see both sides however I am firmly in the go inland on the rail trail camp.

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.

Hugh Hungerford
1/8/2020 10:39:48 am

I get the impression that many of those who disagree with a coastal path have never walked on the many popular coastal paths in the UK. These have brought very many tourists to admire the scenery and environment and contribute to the local economy.
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.

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CR Geoff Ellis
1/8/2020 08:48:55 pm

Open letter to everyone - I will happily give anyone a guided tour of Harmers Haven and point out why the options of stumbling along fragile sand dunes, trampling plovers nests, disturbing cultural heritage or wandering along a dirt track that passes for a main road are unacceptable options. What was the song "Find paradise, put in a walking track."?

Was it small minded to save the Daintree? Small minded to say "don't climb Uluru?"
[email protected]

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Georgina Day
19/10/2020 08:16:01 pm

I fail to see the analogy with the Daintree. This in't a proposal to log trees or clear the bush for farming.

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.

Nola Maxfield
1/8/2020 03:53:55 pm

Some of the pleasure of a “coastal” walk is experiencing a variety of environments, including coming around a corner to get a different vista of the ocean. Having done the multi day Great Ocean Walk in the west of our state, it is not all on the beach or cliff top, but goes inland, as appropriate. Very sensible recommendations from the group.

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Catherine Watson
2/8/2020 09:06:23 am

I think the coastal alliance has nailed it. The section from San Remo to just past Kilcunda is the best of the clifftop views. Take the track inland after that and walkers are in for a different kind of treat. They’ll walk beneath the windmills, encounter mobs of kangaroos and perhaps even emus, see hundreds of water birds at Baxters wetlands, then wander past the remains of the number 5 mine brace and an introduction to Wonthaggi’s rich mining history.

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Edward Buckingham
28/10/2020 10:24:32 am

I agree Catherine, there is plenty to see inland especially in the places where the coast is most delicate

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.

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Max Wells
7/8/2020 02:52:05 pm

We live in a coastal region and yet so often we try to create less ways for people to access and enjoy it. Around the world communities value ocean vista and access to beaches yet again here we have groups trying to find ways for those who come to the coast not access it. While I fully understand the need for environmental protection there are creative ways of doing this and still accessing the ocean vistas. We are currently in one of the greatest crisis our world has faced, communities are threatened both socially and economically. Yes potentially there could be better realignment along the Kilcunda to Cape Paterson component but imagine a creatively road side but not attached dual walk / bike pathway from Inverloch to the Cape. The economic and social benefits would be amazing. It could be one of the great walk / rides in the country and then creatively attach it to the five beaches amazing. People who come to the Bass Coast largely come for a coastal experience, yet we continually try to create infra structure and barriers to that very experience they come for.

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Peter Ghys
7/8/2020 06:15:09 pm

Thank goodness that I’m not the only one who thinks that a coastal walk should be actually on the coast. 😊

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Julie Thomas
5/9/2020 01:26:22 am

I would also comment that shared pathways are becoming less safe as faster, battery-powered bicycles become more popular. This needs to be seriously considered. I've seen two near-collisions at the desal as they come zoomIng around a bend in the trail.

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