Residents fear delays to coastal works expose the beach to winter storm surges.
By Catherine Watson
AS WORK begins on a massive dune reconstruction at Inverloch, Silverleaves residents are bracing for what the coming winter may bring.
The beachside hamlet’s own coastal adaptation project was expected to be well underway by now, but detailed design work is still incomplete.
Louise Hill, a member of the community reference group and president of the Silverleaves Conservation Association, said the key concern is that delays to construction could leave the area exposed to further erosion over winter.
AS WORK begins on a massive dune reconstruction at Inverloch, Silverleaves residents are bracing for what the coming winter may bring.
The beachside hamlet’s own coastal adaptation project was expected to be well underway by now, but detailed design work is still incomplete.
Louise Hill, a member of the community reference group and president of the Silverleaves Conservation Association, said the key concern is that delays to construction could leave the area exposed to further erosion over winter.
“We know we can expect big tides around Easter,” she said. “Does that mean some of the funds earmarked for the plan will be spent on further emergency works?”
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State and federal governments have allocated up to $2.8 million for the Silverleaves project, which will involve reconstructing 200–300 metres of foreshore east of the old revetment wall near the Ellen Road track.
The beach has receded about 77 metres since 1953, according to a 2024 report on Silverleaves coastal processes by the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA). While the loss was gradual over decades, erosion has accelerated sharply since 2022, with an estimated six metres disappearing each year. Previous remedial works have had unintended consequences. In 2021, council replaced eight timber groynes along the Cowes East foreshore. The following year, a 360-metre rock revetment wall was completed between Rose Avenue and Coghlan Road. It is now clear that both projects likely contributed to increased erosion at Silverleaves. |
‘Simple solution' A petition presented to this week’s council meeting calls on the council to build levee banks at Banksia Street and eastern Silverleaves to prevent flooding from Rhyll Inlet. Signed by 23 people and accompanied by 1226 entries to an online petition, it states this is a cost-effective way to safeguard over $500 million in assets, including around 340 homes. “The proposal presents a solution based on tried and extensively researched levee bank systems, drawing on proven engineering principles by a qualified hydrologist." The petition also calls on the council to reverse its “extreme” decision to freeze new development in Silverleaves, which it said had sent property values into freefall. A report will be presented by the May 2026 council meeting. |
Last April, DEECA installed a 150-metre rock bag wall between Ellen and Sanders roads as an emergency measure to protect homes from Easter high tides.
While it provided temporary relief, the wall has created new problems, with scouring at both ends. Some of the metal clips holding the bags have failed during storm surges, spilling rocks onto the beach.
While it provided temporary relief, the wall has created new problems, with scouring at both ends. Some of the metal clips holding the bags have failed during storm surges, spilling rocks onto the beach.
Community members have carried out repairs to secure the bags and council crews and contractors have undertaken beach scraping over further eroded dunes and foreshore.
Under the adaptation plan, the rock bag wall will remain in place and eventually be covered by reconstructed sand dunes planted with littoral vegetation.
Further groynes may also be built using a modified design, and this stage of the project could address the deterioration of the original revetment wall built in the 1960s.
“One of the things we have said is that we all have views, but we’re not experts,” Ms Hill said. “It’s really important that we follow expert advice.
“Credit to the council and the State Government for engaging highly qualified consultants. We have no reason to doubt their advice.
“We are encouraged by the expert advice and very relieved that the initial response has been protection rather than retreat.
“In the longer term, I believe we will see reconstruction of the beachfront and foreshore. Not to its original state — you can’t replace 80-year-old banksias — but some of the beachscape will return.
“We’re just keen to see it get underway as soon as possible.”
Under the adaptation plan, the rock bag wall will remain in place and eventually be covered by reconstructed sand dunes planted with littoral vegetation.
Further groynes may also be built using a modified design, and this stage of the project could address the deterioration of the original revetment wall built in the 1960s.
“One of the things we have said is that we all have views, but we’re not experts,” Ms Hill said. “It’s really important that we follow expert advice.
“Credit to the council and the State Government for engaging highly qualified consultants. We have no reason to doubt their advice.
“We are encouraged by the expert advice and very relieved that the initial response has been protection rather than retreat.
“In the longer term, I believe we will see reconstruction of the beachfront and foreshore. Not to its original state — you can’t replace 80-year-old banksias — but some of the beachscape will return.
“We’re just keen to see it get underway as soon as possible.”
Silverleaves foreshore as it was in 2014. Photo: Louise Hill