EASTERN Victoria MLC Melina Bath has continued to put pressure on the State Government to clarify details of its coastal erosion rescue package for Silverleaves and Inverloch ahead of expected king tides through April, including at Easter.
The Sentinel-Times has put Ms Bath’s criticisms to local MP Jordan Crugnale.
In a statement issued last Thursday, March 27, Ms Bath claimed a share of $10 million in funding, also expected to address urgent restoration work at Black Rock, Inverloch, Loch Sport, Tooradin, Silverleaves and Warrnambool, wasn’t enough, while the announcement lacked the required detail.
“The Allan Labor Government's recent $10 million funding announcement for coastal erosion mitigation falls critically short of addressing the urgent challenges facing six vulnerable Victorian coastal communities. The proposed funding is inadequate and represents nothing more than a superficial response to the severe erosion threatening Silverleaves, Inverloch, Loch Sport, Tooradin, Warrnambool, and Black Rock,” claimed Ms Bath last week.
“Labor’s paltry offering does not address the adaptation and protection measures required to protect homes and public infrastructure. Critically, Labor has failed to provide a breakdown of how the $10 million will be distributed across the six locations adding to community anxiety.
“The Silverleaves community must be prioritised, short-term geotextile revetment should have been installed prior to Christmas but Labor ignored department recommendations. Residents deserve a comprehensive, detailed plan that demonstrates a genuine commitment to coastal protection. The current funding announcement fails to meet this fundamental standard of responsible governance.”
Ms Crugnale said the works at Silverleaves were being prioritised to start last Friday and are expected to be completed before the Easter high tides.
“This was always the preferred timing, expectation and advocacy of the local community along with Council,” said Ms Crugnale
“Further information on specific funding amounts will be announced in due course.
“This is because it is a package amount across many project areas and each of the project costings will be re-evaluated and finalised as designs and tenders where required are completed.”
According to Ms Crugnale, DEECA is working with the Bass Coast Shire Council as the land managers, to undertake emergency works at Silverleaves on Phillip Island to construct a rock bag revetment. BCSC have appointed a contractor to deliver the works.
From last Friday, they started getting the machinery and materials onsite and also initiated offsite preconstruction works.
The contractor is expected to commence onsite work in the week beginning the April 7. Onsite works are expected to take 7-10 days, depending on weather conditions, with the aim to be completed by Easter.
Ms Crugnale said the rock bag revetment is a temporary management strategy to reduce the immediate erosion and inundation risk whilst as appropriate longer term adaptation strategy is developed with the community.
“DEECA will be putting out a statement outlining the project and assure the community of the works due to take place, including when they expect to see contractors onsite.”
It is still not clear how much of the $10 million in funding will be directed to urgent works at Inverloch, what those works will involve and when the emergency protection works, especially at the Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Club and Cape Paterson Road will go ahead.
Inverloch Tourism Association President, Glenn Morris, a member of Inverloch Coastal Advisory Network, said the local community was none the wiser on the questions of when, what and how much?
“We are in the dark on how much funding is allocated for Inverloch specifically which in itself is frustrating. Our intel is that funds will be allocated for immediate protections works at the Surf Club. This is critical but it also suggests that no State Government funding is being put towards the Dune Construction works slated to commence in Spring this year.
“Moreover, no State Government funding has also been allocated to protect Cape Paterson-Inverloch Road. This is of great concern to the Inverloch community.
Mr Morris said the 2022 grant of $3.3 million from the Federal Government’s Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program needed to be matched by the state government so that the required movement of 200,000 cubic metres of sand for dune reconstruction works could commence immediately.
“The fact is that since around 2010, we have witnessed Inverloch Beach lose an estimated 250,000 cubic metres of sand to erosion. The problem is real. It seems crazy not to replace at least what we have lost!” he said.
