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Loch Sport erosion funding must be included by Andrews Labor government in 2023 Victorian Budget

Danny O'Brien, Nationals Member for Gippsland South, calls for funding in the 2023-2024 State Budget to implement long-term solutions for erosion at Loch Sport.

By news@gippsland - 5th April 2023 - Back to News

The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien says the Andrews Labor government must include funding to tackle erosion at Loch Sport in the upcoming state budget. Mr O'Brien said the state government had been examining action for years now to address the erosion on the Lake Victoria foreshore but has continually failed to commit the money needed to implement any real solutions.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland South Danny O'Brien says groynes for Loch Sport must be included in the 2023-2024 State Budget

Groyne cost commitment

Mr O'Brien said, "We've had around eight reports over the past ten or so years, but following community consultation, the most recent report indicated that the construction of 28 groynes was the preferred method for moving forward. This would help address the erosion that is eating away at public land and walking tracks, and ultimately may threaten private property."

"The costing outlined in the Loch Sport Foreshore Coastal Processes and Options Assessment Report for the implementation of these groynes was estimated to fall somewhere between $5 million and $7 million with an estimated annual cost of between $600k and $750k. We need to see a commitment to implementing this reflected in the 2023-2024 State Budget." Mr O'Brien said.

Funding and implementation

Mr O'Brien said the Andrews Labor government had drip-fed hundreds of thousands of dollars into short term measures and reports over the past decade but failed to implement any long-term solutions and this cannot be allowed to continue. "My concern is that we are just being given lip service and that at the end of all the reports, studies and consultations we are going to be left with a huge invoice and no one willing to foot the bill."

"I have been campaigning with the local community for several years to get a solution to this problem and it is great we are finally getting somewhere, but we need funding for concrete actions. The reports are done, the consultation is done, and it is time to put the money on the table and implement the recommendations before we find ourselves wasting more money fixing preventable problems," he said. The Victorian State Budget will be delivered on Tuesday, 23 May 2023.

Pictures from Danny O'Brien MP website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com