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Labor's Cape to Cape Resilience Project has failed to address coastal hazards, says Melina Bath

Despite four years and seven agencies, Labor's Cape to Cape Resilience Project has failed to address coastal hazards in Bass Coast, leaving residents frustrated and at risk of further damage, says Melina Bath.

By news@gippsland - 3rd September 2024 - Back to News

Despite four years and the involvement of seven state government agencies, Labor's Cape to Cape Resilience Project plan has failed to deliver one recommendation to reduce immediate coastal environmental hazards in the Bass Coast, says The Nationals' Melina Bath. Coastal erosion and storm damage present the greatest risks, yet the plan does nothing to demonstrate how the Allan Labor Government will mitigate these impacts, according to Ms Bath.

Melina Bath criticised the Cape to Cape Resilience Plan for ignoring tidal surge and coastal erosion, failing to prioritise vital protections for key coastal areas

Coastal protection needed

Ms Bath said, "Bass Coast residents are frustrated that there's no tangible recommendations to protect the area's built and natural assets, and retreating is not an option. 'Building resilience' is an active term, yet once again, Labor is absolving itself of the responsibility to act. The Plan doesn't represent what the community is telling the government - they say its inaction is causing damage."

Ms Bath said the Cape to Cape Resilience Project Plan fails to address the priority issues of tidal surge and coastal erosion. "It's unfathomable that engineering solutions for the protection of Inverloch surf beach, Cape Paterson-Inverloch Road, Inverloch, Venus Bay and Tarwin Lower have not been prioritised. The economic and environmental importance of protecting the coastline cannot be overstated and no one is taking charge," she said.

Coastal erosion ignored

Ms Bath added, "Despite tourism being a key industry and the coastline intrinsically linked to the region's future prosperity, Labor's plan is to do nothing until 2040 and then retreat. With Inverloch currently experiencing a storm and tidal surge with this weather front - the coastal damage serves to expose the plan's serious shortcomings."

"In 2019 local member, Jordan Crugnale MP described Inverloch's coastal erosion as 'amongst the worst in the state', but the community has been left high and dry by Labor's inaction and inability to manage a solution. Labor can't manage money, can't manage our coastal environment and Bass Coast locals are paying the price," she said.

Pictures from Melina Bath MP Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com