Updated to include DEECA response

LOCALS and visitors alike can tell you where all the sand from the Inverloch Surf Beach has gone, all 75 metres of it, over the past five years or so.

And environmental officer at the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club, Warren Cook, has had a birds’ eye view of the movement from his home, watching Anderson Inlet fill up with sand, while being fully aware of the threat posed to the surf club from constant erosion.

“We’ve been a bit lucky over the past two years that the damage from erosion has slowed down, but in the years previous to that, the storm surges and south-westerly flow have really gouged out tremendous amounts of sand,” said the former surf club president.

“We lost two patrol towers along the way and where the surf club building was way back in the dunes before, you can clearly see it from the beach now.

“But it’s not about us or the surf club building. That’s going to go in the years ahead, as sea level rises, with threats to the town’s infrastructure and some of the houses along the beach, unless something major is done soon.

“We called for immediate action from the beginning and thankfully we have seen some measures that have been successful, particularly the rock wall down the Cape Paterson Road end, but there’s really got to be a commitment to more action now.

“Personally, I’d like to see the rock wall extended all the way along the beach, from where it is now to Point Norman, and three groynes constructed to reduce the impact of the tidal flow and storm surges, catching and retaining more of the sand.

“I think you’ll find that the sand will build up again.”

Speaking on ABC Radio this week, Mr Cook said there was still a risk that Inverloch would lose its surf beach unless major works were funded and undertaken as a matter of urgency.

Such an outcome, he said, would be a catastrophe for the town and its economy.

“Consultation is good, but it has been going on for three years now. It’s time for action,” he said.

A former member of the stakeholders group engaged in the Cape to Cape Resilience Project, Mr Cook was one of a number of community representatives who resigned over lack of action.

“They lost some good people there.”

Mr Cook said the project team and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action needed to release the full suite of reports and produce an implementation plan that could be funded immediately before beach and dune erosion resumed at its previously highly damaging rate.

At present the Cape to Cape project team is conducting an extensive community engagement program on what to do next.

They’ve staged several pop-up engagement opportunities and are also asking people to respond to an online survey about the actions they’d like to see, while asking several key questions involving the impact of climate change/sea level rise in the future.

Survey responses must be received by February 26, 2023 at https://engage.vic.gov.au/project/cape-cape-resilience-project/survey/

Some of the questions include:

* How would you feel about moving the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club over time, if it meant we could continue having a sandy beach at Inverloch?

* How would you feel about moving roads and services if it meant we could continue having a sandy beach at Inverloch?

* How would you feel about moving private properties out of at-risk areas over time, if it meant we could continue having a sandy beach at Inverloch?

* How would you feel about moving the Bunurong Road, if it meant we could continue having a sandy beach at Inverloch?

There are also questions for those concerned about erosion in and around Anderson Inlet, including:

* Thinking about Andersons Inlet, how would you feel about moving private properties out of at-risk areas over time?

What the Department had to say

From a Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) spokesperson:

“We’re currently undertaking Stage 2 of the Cape to Cape Resilience Project, with extensive community and stakeholder engagement now underway.

“DEECA are welcoming community input on matters such as which adaptation actions are supported in the areas between Cape Paterson to Cape Liptrap.

“The intent of Stage 2 is to gain an understanding into which intervention strategy aligns with the aspirations and values of the local community.”

DEECA background

Technical information which conveys the breadth of findings within Stage 1 Reports has been condensed into several summary documents, available at https://www.marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/coastal-programs/cape-to-cape-resilience-project and via Engage Victoria.

Stage 2 is the development of the Cape to Cape Resilience Plan, which will include managing the changes along Inverloch’s coastline, building resilience for the coastal communities between Cape Paterson to Cape Liptrap and adaptation planning for the future.

DEECA have already successfully delivered 4 community drop-in sessions in 2023, at Venus Bay, Inverloch Twilight Market and at the Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Club on January 10 and January 11.A total of 400 people attended these drop-in sessions to ask questions from experts representing multiple agencies.

Community input is vital in the development of the Cape to Cape Resilience Plan, with an online survey now live on Engage Victoria: https://engage.vic.gov.au/project/cape-cape-resilience-project/participate The survey will close on 26 February 2023.

This survey is an opportunity for the community to shape the management of coastal hazards along the Bass Coast and South Gippsland coastline.

The Engage Victoria survey has already recorded over 16,000 visits to the site since launching on Monday 9 January 2023.

The full suite of Stage 1 Reports are expected to be released in due course.