Councilors back push for state action on Silverleaves but disagree over staged “retreat”.
By Catherine Watson
Bass Coast councillors have backed stronger advocacy for the Silverleaves community but disagree over whether planned “retreat” from vulnerable coastal areas should remain part of the discussion.
At Wednesday’s council meeting, councillors voted 6-2 to urge the State Government to lead and fund a comprehensive coastal hazard adaptation and resilience plan for the low-lying village, where coastal erosion has accelerated dramatically in recent years.
The vote was in response to a petition, signed by 23 residents and supported by 1,226 online entries, which called for the council and government to commit to funding works for Silverleaves, including a levee bank.
Bass Coast councillors have backed stronger advocacy for the Silverleaves community but disagree over whether planned “retreat” from vulnerable coastal areas should remain part of the discussion.
At Wednesday’s council meeting, councillors voted 6-2 to urge the State Government to lead and fund a comprehensive coastal hazard adaptation and resilience plan for the low-lying village, where coastal erosion has accelerated dramatically in recent years.
The vote was in response to a petition, signed by 23 residents and supported by 1,226 online entries, which called for the council and government to commit to funding works for Silverleaves, including a levee bank.
The motion did not directly respond to the levee bank proposal but reaffirmed council’s support for adaptation works already underway and for continued planning on coastal inundation planning, emissions reduction and funding for communities facing imminent risk.
State and federal governments have committed up to $2.8 million towards reconstruction of 200 to 300 metres of the Silverleaves foreshore. An emergency rock bag wall was installed last year but work has yet to start on the dune works.
Moving the motion, Cr Mat Morgan said Silverleaves residents were facing a reality confronting coastal communities across Australia.
“This is not a Silverleaves-specific issue, this is not a Bass Coast-specific issue, this is a global climate crisis and what we are dealing with is the face of that,” he said.
Cr Morgan said residents were understandably distressed by falling property values and rising insurance risks. “These are these are towns that are built on sand dunes. We're looking at a metre of sea level rise by 2100.
“There's no wall – there’s nothing we can do unless we're going to put our entire continent on stilts – that is going to save every single coastal property in this country and we need our federal and state leaders to stand up.
“These people deserve to know what is happening to their livelihoods, their properties into the future.”
Several councillors stressed the need for coordinated action beyond local government.
Cr Tracey Bell said residents were seeking “coordinated meaningful action across all levels of government”.
“The scale and complexity of the challenges facing Silverleaves requires leadership and investment beyond council alone,” she said.
Cr Jon Temby said no local government in Australia could manage the financial implications of sea level rise on its own.
“We need a consistent approach to be implemented at state level and hopefully nationally,” he said.
State and federal governments have committed up to $2.8 million towards reconstruction of 200 to 300 metres of the Silverleaves foreshore. An emergency rock bag wall was installed last year but work has yet to start on the dune works.
Moving the motion, Cr Mat Morgan said Silverleaves residents were facing a reality confronting coastal communities across Australia.
“This is not a Silverleaves-specific issue, this is not a Bass Coast-specific issue, this is a global climate crisis and what we are dealing with is the face of that,” he said.
Cr Morgan said residents were understandably distressed by falling property values and rising insurance risks. “These are these are towns that are built on sand dunes. We're looking at a metre of sea level rise by 2100.
“There's no wall – there’s nothing we can do unless we're going to put our entire continent on stilts – that is going to save every single coastal property in this country and we need our federal and state leaders to stand up.
“These people deserve to know what is happening to their livelihoods, their properties into the future.”
Several councillors stressed the need for coordinated action beyond local government.
Cr Tracey Bell said residents were seeking “coordinated meaningful action across all levels of government”.
“The scale and complexity of the challenges facing Silverleaves requires leadership and investment beyond council alone,” she said.
Cr Jon Temby said no local government in Australia could manage the financial implications of sea level rise on its own.
“We need a consistent approach to be implemented at state level and hopefully nationally,” he said.
“We are saying to the residents by using the R word, retreat, that we have given up." |
But the debate became more heated over references in the officer recommendation to “a proactive and equitable framework for staged retreat of coastal assets in vulnerable locations”.
Cr Ron Bauer said the language would alarm residents. “We are saying to the residents by using the R word, retreat, that we have given up,” he said.
He argued the proposed levee bank should be fully explored before any discussion of retreat.
“The strategy of applying a levy bank to protect as much of Silverleaves as possible should be fully explored before we give up and tell residents the inevitable long-term outcome is retreat.”
Cr Meg Edwards said she had previously opposed state planning policies endorsing retreat at Inverloch and Silverleaves.
“It would be hypocritical for me to do anything but continue to advocate for protection in this space.”
Other councillors argued that acknowledging the possibility of retreat did not mean abandoning efforts to protect vulnerable communities.
Cr Rochelle Halstead said councillors had a responsibility to listen to scientific advice and plan for worst-case scenarios.
“Of course councillors do not support retreat. That would be an absolute last resort. But if the scientists are telling us this is going to happen, then we need a plan.
"We can't just leave people sitting out there waiting for the water to swallow up their homes if that's what's going to happen.”
Cr Ron Bauer said the language would alarm residents. “We are saying to the residents by using the R word, retreat, that we have given up,” he said.
He argued the proposed levee bank should be fully explored before any discussion of retreat.
“The strategy of applying a levy bank to protect as much of Silverleaves as possible should be fully explored before we give up and tell residents the inevitable long-term outcome is retreat.”
Cr Meg Edwards said she had previously opposed state planning policies endorsing retreat at Inverloch and Silverleaves.
“It would be hypocritical for me to do anything but continue to advocate for protection in this space.”
Other councillors argued that acknowledging the possibility of retreat did not mean abandoning efforts to protect vulnerable communities.
Cr Rochelle Halstead said councillors had a responsibility to listen to scientific advice and plan for worst-case scenarios.
“Of course councillors do not support retreat. That would be an absolute last resort. But if the scientists are telling us this is going to happen, then we need a plan.
"We can't just leave people sitting out there waiting for the water to swallow up their homes if that's what's going to happen.”
“We need to be prepared for the worst case scenario and to not do that is to walk away from our duty of care to our community.” |
Cr Morgan said retreat should not be treated as a taboo subject.
“That’s us advocating with the scientific knowledge of coastal inundation and calling for buybacks, equitable arrangements so people aren’t left holding the kitty when their houses fall into the sea.
“It doesn't mean that you can't do anything else. It means that we need to be prepared for the worst case scenario and to not do that is to completely walk away from our duty of care to our community.”
The motion was carried with councillors Rochelle Halstead, Jon Temby, Tracey Bell, Brett Tessari, Jan Thompson and Mat Morgan voting in favour. Crs Meg Edwards and Ron Bauer voted against.
“That’s us advocating with the scientific knowledge of coastal inundation and calling for buybacks, equitable arrangements so people aren’t left holding the kitty when their houses fall into the sea.
“It doesn't mean that you can't do anything else. It means that we need to be prepared for the worst case scenario and to not do that is to completely walk away from our duty of care to our community.”
The motion was carried with councillors Rochelle Halstead, Jon Temby, Tracey Bell, Brett Tessari, Jan Thompson and Mat Morgan voting in favour. Crs Meg Edwards and Ron Bauer voted against.