The Surf Parade Shared Pathway has been discussed, approved, delayed and debated since 2012.
By Catherine Watson
TEN years after work started on the Surf Parade Shared Pathway, it’s a step closer to completion with the council beginning the formal process to make a section of the road one way to allow construction of the final stage.
This will be the missing link once the Inverloch to Wonthaggi Trail opens in mid 2026.
The path has been discussed, approved, delayed, debated and queried since 2014 and the community has been through repeated rounds of consultation.
The first three sections of Surf Parade, between Abbott Street and Ozone Street, incorporate parking and a pathway, along with two-way traffic.
TEN years after work started on the Surf Parade Shared Pathway, it’s a step closer to completion with the council beginning the formal process to make a section of the road one way to allow construction of the final stage.
This will be the missing link once the Inverloch to Wonthaggi Trail opens in mid 2026.
The path has been discussed, approved, delayed, debated and queried since 2014 and the community has been through repeated rounds of consultation.
The first three sections of Surf Parade, between Abbott Street and Ozone Street, incorporate parking and a pathway, along with two-way traffic.
By the time it got to the final section, between Ozone Street and Goroke Street, the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA) had decreed that no part of the coastal reserve could be utilised for the pathway due to accelerating coastal erosion.
While there was overwhelming community support for incorporating a path, car parking and two-way traffic, as in the first two stages, this was no longer possible.
When the project went out for community consultation in 2023, there was equal support for the two options offered by the council: parking and one-way vehicle traffic; or no parking provision and retain two-way traffic.
In May 2024, councillors concluded the time for talking was over. They opted for the path and car parking and to remove a lane of traffic between Ozone Street and Goroke Street, with the traffic flow from east to west.
While there was overwhelming community support for incorporating a path, car parking and two-way traffic, as in the first two stages, this was no longer possible.
When the project went out for community consultation in 2023, there was equal support for the two options offered by the council: parking and one-way vehicle traffic; or no parking provision and retain two-way traffic.
In May 2024, councillors concluded the time for talking was over. They opted for the path and car parking and to remove a lane of traffic between Ozone Street and Goroke Street, with the traffic flow from east to west.
Moving the motion to start the process at Wednesday's council meeting, Cr Brett Tessari acknowledged that after 12 years of consultation everyone was sick of it.
“The fact is what was agreed upon and what was wanted all those years ago cannot happen. We've lost 50 metres of foreshore since those glory days and that plan was adopted so here we stand right now, a line in the sand, so to speak.
"I've heard all along that the most important part of this project is the pathway. The second part is the parking.
“I encourage everyone to have their say not on what could have been done a dozen to 15 years ago but on what is in front of us right now.
“Let’s get on with this project and hopefully have this finished before my council term’s finished because it was going on before I started on council 10 years ago."
Cr Meg Edwards acknowledged the issue “had been consulted to within an inch of its life” but suggested the council keep it on hold.
“The community are asking when are we going to start to listen because their message has been incredibly clear, it hasn't changed, and that is that the path with the two-way traffic and leaving the road as it is with the path on the side.”
“I recognise that at the moment that's not a possibility … what I'm about to suggest is that we postpone this.
“We have an election in about 10 months’ time and we have a Coalition opposition who have committed to permanent protection works on the Inverloch foreshore.
“Surely the priority now has to be let's get the beach right, let's get the erosion right, because that's been given by DEECA as the reason why they're not prepared to do the path and the two-way traffic.”
“The fact is what was agreed upon and what was wanted all those years ago cannot happen. We've lost 50 metres of foreshore since those glory days and that plan was adopted so here we stand right now, a line in the sand, so to speak.
"I've heard all along that the most important part of this project is the pathway. The second part is the parking.
“I encourage everyone to have their say not on what could have been done a dozen to 15 years ago but on what is in front of us right now.
“Let’s get on with this project and hopefully have this finished before my council term’s finished because it was going on before I started on council 10 years ago."
Cr Meg Edwards acknowledged the issue “had been consulted to within an inch of its life” but suggested the council keep it on hold.
“The community are asking when are we going to start to listen because their message has been incredibly clear, it hasn't changed, and that is that the path with the two-way traffic and leaving the road as it is with the path on the side.”
“I recognise that at the moment that's not a possibility … what I'm about to suggest is that we postpone this.
“We have an election in about 10 months’ time and we have a Coalition opposition who have committed to permanent protection works on the Inverloch foreshore.
“Surely the priority now has to be let's get the beach right, let's get the erosion right, because that's been given by DEECA as the reason why they're not prepared to do the path and the two-way traffic.”
Despite her appeal, councillors voted six to three to proceed. There will be one more round of consultation, with the council inviting written submissions on the proposed traffic changes, closing on April 1.
A committee comprising the Mayor and Bunurong Ward councillors will hear submissions, with the committee to report back to the council before consideration of the matter at the June 17 council meeting.
Construction of the final section of the path is expected to begin in mid to late 2026, with savings from the Inverloch to Wonthaggi Trail helping to fund the estimated cost of $1.16 million.
A committee comprising the Mayor and Bunurong Ward councillors will hear submissions, with the committee to report back to the council before consideration of the matter at the June 17 council meeting.
Construction of the final section of the path is expected to begin in mid to late 2026, with savings from the Inverloch to Wonthaggi Trail helping to fund the estimated cost of $1.16 million.