The council has spent $223,000 on emergency works at Inverloch beach in the past four months.
By Catherine Watson
“LIKE the residents in a valley watching a bushfire approaching …” That was how Cr Tim O’Brien’s described coastal residents as he pressed for stronger action on beach erosion at Inverloch and Silverleaves.
At Wednesday’s council meeting – the first full meeting by the new council – councillors voted for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to seek an urgent meeting with Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos.
They will request the commencement as soon as practicable of large-scale dune restoration at Inverloch and funding for Geotech sandbagging for the Silverleaves foreshore.
“LIKE the residents in a valley watching a bushfire approaching …” That was how Cr Tim O’Brien’s described coastal residents as he pressed for stronger action on beach erosion at Inverloch and Silverleaves.
At Wednesday’s council meeting – the first full meeting by the new council – councillors voted for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to seek an urgent meeting with Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos.
They will request the commencement as soon as practicable of large-scale dune restoration at Inverloch and funding for Geotech sandbagging for the Silverleaves foreshore.
Last month councillors voted to support an urgent motion by Cr Meg Edwards for a report addressing options for protection of Inverloch beach.
A council report outlined the steps taken so far: since the August 2024 storm surge the council has spent $223,000 in emergency works to address immediate risk to assets and beach access.
The Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA) is leading a $3 million program of large-scale dune nourishment works scheduled to start in the spring of 2025.
A council report outlined the steps taken so far: since the August 2024 storm surge the council has spent $223,000 in emergency works to address immediate risk to assets and beach access.
The Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA) is leading a $3 million program of large-scale dune nourishment works scheduled to start in the spring of 2025.
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The council report recommended the council write to the Minister and request DEECA to establish an ongoing community information program.
Cr O’Brien moved an alternate motion seeking stronger and more urgent response. The council will press DEECA and the State Government to get the necessary works for Inverloch and Silverleaves funded and underway as soon as possible. He said there was growing alarm in coastal communities at the degradation of coastlines posed by stronger and more frequent storms, higher tidal surges, and deepening and potentially more catastrophic impacts. While most of the focus has been on the Inverloch beach Cr O’Brien said the Silverleaves beach and houses were also at grave risk. “The advanced scouring there, resulting in part from the revetment previously installed, is now undermining the lea side of the dune – it’s on the downhill run – that sits between the tidal high-water mark and properties backing onto Woodland Avenue. |
“People’s insurance premiums are going through the roof. There is zero compensation strategy being prepared for literally stranded assets and people are understandably worried and frustrated.” Cr Mat Morgan “We all share enormous empathy and concern for the people who are being affected and who will be affected into the future but climate change projections are being exceeded consistently.” Cr Jon Temby “Listening to our community and advocating to the state and federal government about the urgency is the best thing we can do.” Cr Brett Tessari “Even if we used our entire $500,000 climate emergency fund we’d be throwing good money at an impossible situation.” Cr Ron Bauer |
“We have spoken with residents who are genuinely anguished by the prospect of property loss, unsaleable properties, uncertainty and helplessness, while waiting for action by DEECA, by Government, and, yes, by Council… they want to see the reports, consultants’ findings and recommendations turned into effective action.
“We have to remind ourselves that these residents, whom we represent, they are like the residents in a valley watching a bushfire approaching.
“They just want something done, they don’t want to hear about why it’s difficult; they expect their council to see them, to hear them, to recognise the emergency… and to help. “
A report by consultants FSC Range shows that the foreshore at Silverleaves has retreated by more than 70 metres since 1953, but as much as 16 metres since 2022.
Cr Meg Edwards said a councillor group that visited Silverleaves were shocked at the extent of the gouging beyond the end of the revetment and the threat to residents' homes.
She said councillors met Inverloch Tourism Association, the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club, the South Gippsland Conservation Society and the Inverloch Foreshore Action Group to understand what action they wanted the council to take.
“In summary their over-riding action was a clear one: ‘Protect our town’.”
Council officers are working with community leaders on a number of measures to ensure safety over the summer season in response to impact of storm surges creating sand cliffs. Several beach tracks have been closed and signs have been installed warning of unstable cliffs.
They are also investigating a request for a community bus to operate in Inverloch over the peak holiday season to deliver visitors to safer beaches.
“We have to remind ourselves that these residents, whom we represent, they are like the residents in a valley watching a bushfire approaching.
“They just want something done, they don’t want to hear about why it’s difficult; they expect their council to see them, to hear them, to recognise the emergency… and to help. “
A report by consultants FSC Range shows that the foreshore at Silverleaves has retreated by more than 70 metres since 1953, but as much as 16 metres since 2022.
Cr Meg Edwards said a councillor group that visited Silverleaves were shocked at the extent of the gouging beyond the end of the revetment and the threat to residents' homes.
She said councillors met Inverloch Tourism Association, the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club, the South Gippsland Conservation Society and the Inverloch Foreshore Action Group to understand what action they wanted the council to take.
“In summary their over-riding action was a clear one: ‘Protect our town’.”
Council officers are working with community leaders on a number of measures to ensure safety over the summer season in response to impact of storm surges creating sand cliffs. Several beach tracks have been closed and signs have been installed warning of unstable cliffs.
They are also investigating a request for a community bus to operate in Inverloch over the peak holiday season to deliver visitors to safer beaches.