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Combating Erosion at Inverloch

Bass Coast Shire Council and environmental groups continued to meet to respond to the ongoing erosion along the Inverloch Surf Beach.

By Portal Admin - 16th December 2018 - Back to News

In response to ongoing erosion along the Inverloch Surf Beach, a group, consisting of Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Regional Roads Victoria, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, Parks Victoria and Bass Coast Shire Council have continued to meet.

"Finding short and long term solutions to combat this significant erosion requires the assistance and technical knowledge of a number of stakeholders, it’s a team effort," Bass Coast Mayor Cr Pamela Rothfield said.

The coastal erosion has the potential to affect assets owned or managed by multiple agencies.

"Currently the group’s focus has been on action to protect the Cape Paterson - Inverloch Road and the Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Club (SLSC) building which includes Council’s public amenities and the carpark," Cr Rothfield said.

In a recent meeting on site, internal and independent coastal engineers, road engineers and technical experts reviewed the technical data to assess the rate of erosion and review possible options. In line with this technical advice, wet sand fencing will be implemented, which involves placing sand behind a fence to protect the eroding cliff face. It will also help mitigate further erosion in front of the Inverloch SLSC building and along Cape Paterson Inverloch Road.

"This approach has been trialled before on similar dynamic and powerful surf beaches in Victoria with success," Cr Rothfield said.

"We will then be able to measure and monitor the effect of this mitigation action on the erosion in the short, medium and long term, and make further decisions as required."

Council and the relevant agencies are currently working on the tendering process for design and costings. The request for quote is due out by the end of November and work should start in February/March next year.

"This is the first stage in a larger, multi-agency strategic approach to the Inverloch Surf Beach erosion issues. We will be working with the community in the future to source funding for studies that will underpin further planning decisions," Cr Rothfield concluded.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com