All at sea

16/8/2018

Attempts to protect the Inverloch beach lookout with sandbags proved ineffectual. Photo: Susan Hall

As the Coles plastic bag debate raged, Susan Hall watched another plastic disaster unfold on Inverloch beach.

By Susan Hall

I’VE seen what the tides have done to the Inverloch Surf Club lookout and the surf beach. My real concern is the 30-something sandbags and fibrous matting that were used to try to save the structure. I would like to think that they were removed.

I have photographed remnants of bags heading out into the water about three weeks after the tower was moved. It would be so disappointing to know they have all disappeared out to sea.

Just last week the matting was in a large piece clearly visible at low tide. I hope someone has taken responsibility for the remnants; sadly I doubt it.

Unless we all discuss these issues, humans will continue to pollute the beautiful coastline we are so lucky to live on.

7 Comments

Margaret Lothian

17/8/2018 08:19:03 am

This fraying plastic is unsightly, and perhaps there was a better solution. The terrifying aspect is that, as predicted 20 years ago, it is a symptom of climate change. We are seeing massive beach erosion caused by thermal expansion of the sea water, a small amount (so far) of additional fresh water from glacier loss and more energetic storms.

Robert Kenyon

17/8/2018 08:54:29 am

Unfortunately, they were not removed. I tried to pull them out but it was impossible as they were deep in the sand. They eventually moved along the beach with the high tides and heavy weather, and a a few tides later they "disappeared". But they didn't really disappear. Made of polypropylene, the broken plastic fibres will be in the environment for hundreds, even thousands, of years.

Libby Lambert

17/8/2018 09:09:32 am

Wondering why they could not use hessian bags and fill them with sand as they would break down more quickly ?

rosemary loughnan

17/8/2018 01:13:13 pm

I have a feeling that was under water some time ago as further around to the pier was many years ago when I was a child

Robert Kenyon

17/8/2018 01:56:22 pm

This is the second time that polypropylene sandbags have been used on the beach in a futile attempt to protect the ISLSC structure. The first photo above shows the first structure. Those got washed away last year, and this year the new sandbags at the new location have been washed away. Do they plan to do the same again? Do they care?

michael whelan

20/8/2018 10:16:26 pm

Robert I agree we need to know what happened in regard to the fate of these bags and as importantly how they feature in future plans for coastal adaptation. But I think it is important to make these views known directly to the authorities - the 'they' in do they care should be do we care and if so ensure the authority involved knows that and is prevailed on to react.

Daryl Hook

20/8/2018 04:50:49 pm

Freighting article,how can this happen in our back yard.If such a thing happens again perhaps people power could be organised to recycle that pollution Just send out a punctual notice on Bass Coast Post.We care!

All at sea

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