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Labor's community consultation criticised as residents demand action on Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club's coastal erosion

Labor's community consultation faces criticism amid a petition from 2,575 residents demanding action on coastal erosion, as local assets remain at risk due to years of government inaction.

By news@gippsland - 31st October 2024 - Back to News

Labor's flawed community consultation has come under scrutiny in state parliament during the debate triggered by the Save Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Club (SLSC) petition. The petition, signed by 2575 people in only four days, is demanding tangible action on Inverloch coastal erosion and rejects the recommendations in the Allan Labor government's draft Coast to Coast Resilience Project Plan.

The Inverloch Region Coastal Hazard Assessment combines technical data and community input to assess the viability of five adaptation strategies for coastal hazards

Labor's coastal failures

In leading the debate on behalf of locals, The Nationals' Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath said the Inverloch SLSC and other public and private assets are at imminent risk after years of Labor inaction. "For 10 years the state government has been kicking the tin down the road on coastal erosion and locals are frustrated."

"Labor has used a limited consultation process with loaded questions to justify its coastal retreat strategy. The September storms and SLSC's petition expose serious failures with the draft plan. The Allan government is avoiding structural engineering solutions due to political ideology and the required financial investment. Sand renourishment of the beach in isolation will not improve the resilience of Inverloch's coastline - it's a temporary and inadequate band aid," she said.

Coastal erosion neglect

In her criticism of the state government, Ms Bath pointed to the technical pathways documented in the 2022 Inverloch Region Coastal Hazard Assessment. Ms Bath said the document identified two options to address coastal erosion from the Bunurong Road Seawall to Point Norman; pathway one was to maintain existing dune and beach amenity for long term planning and pathway two was retreat.

"Unsurprisingly, Labor's recommendation two years later is to retreat, but it is failing to come clean with residents on the full implications. Retreat is the Allan government's 'get out jail free card' to justify doing little as the beach, surf lifesaving club, dunes, footpaths, road and potentially homes are at risk due to coastal erosion."

"The Inverloch SLSC petition was embraced by 40 per cent of the town's population and I thank President Glenn Arnold, Treasurer Steven Duncan and the Tourism Association for its continued advocacy on behalf of their community. Labor can't manage coastal erosion, can manage money and Inverloch residents are paying the price," said Ms Bath.

Pictures from Melina Bath MP Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com