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Release Of Gippsland Lakes Erosion Strategy

New strategy to greatly assist foreshore managers in preparing works programs

By Duncan Malcolm - 17th October 2002 - Back to News

The Gippsland Coastal Board has released the Gippsland Lakes Shore Erosion and Revegetation Strategy.

The Strategy describes the different shorelines around the Lakes and presents the results of photographic comparisons from 1935/40 to the present, recommending priorities for revegetation and erosion control works.

Mr Duncan Malcolm, Chair of the Gippsland Coastal Board said that the Gippsland Lakes comprise approximately 350 kms of shoreline and increased salinity resulting from the construction of the permanent opening at Lakes Entrance in 1889 has caused extensive die-back of fringing reedbed vegetation around much of the shoreline.

"The loss of the energy-absorbing fringing reedbed has exposed adjacent shoreline vegetation to greater wave energy, resulting in shoreline erosion," Mr Malcolm said. "Comparison of aerial photos spanning 1935/40 to 1997 demonstrate that the majority of shorelines are eroding at an average of less than 0.1metres per year, although a range of locations including northern Raymond Island and the entrance to McLennan Strait from Lake Victoria are eroding at a rate between 0.2 to 0.5 metres per year."

Mr Malcolm said that any consideration of shore erosion around the Gippsland Lakes must clearly take into account the implications of predicted rising sea levels due to global warming, where the effect will be most dramatic in the many low-lying areas around the Lakes.

"The field investigations showed that very few public infrastructure assets or sites of biological significance are currently threatened by erosion and, recognising that erosion is an on-going process, the do-nothing option is recommended for the majority of the Gippsland Lakes shoreline."

"Prioritised revegetation of eroding shorelines and engineering shoreline protection works are recommended for key sites and will greatly assist foreshore managers in preparing works programs," he said.

The Gippsland Lakes Foreshore and Erosion Strategy is available on the Gippsland Coastal Board’s website at www.gcb.vic.gov.au and a workshop for agency staff and interested community groups and individuals will be held at Paynesville Motor Cruiser Club at 10am on Friday 18 October.


Source: http://east.gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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