THE Inverloch Foreshore Action Group are calling an emergency meeting in Inverloch on Sunday, July 13, to rally community support to save the Inverloch Foreshore and vital community assets.
“The emergency meeting is being called because State Government agencies are now planning a retreat which means vital community assets will be lost including hundreds of homes long term. This will result in a significant section of the Inverloch township as we know it now, lost forever,” Action Group member Alan Brown said.
“For the past ten years, the Government has been aware that significant erosion has been occurring at the Inverloch foreshore and should be ashamed of their inaction.
“Presently, significant portions of what remains of the dune formation at Inverloch continue dropping into the ocean and Government agencies are now talking retreat options.
“Retreat means the Government walks away and a significant portion of the Inverloch township as we know it today will be lost,” he said.
“Not everyone understands how serious the present issue is regarding the loss of the Inverloch Foreshore. After ten years of government
inaction watching the foreshore disappear, we now have a full-blown crisis with eventually hundreds of homes at peril of being lost through inundation by the ocean if immediate protective works are not undertaken.”
For much of the dunes it is too late, but unless the Government acts immediately, the Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Clubhouse will be lost and the road between Inverloch and Cape Paterson will be cut off.
As a short-term stopgap measure, the Government is considering pumping sand from the Inlet at a cost of millions of dollars before they retreat. With absolute certainty, unless protective
measures are put in front of that freshly pumped sand slurry it will all be lost. We know this as a certainty as for months the Bass Coast Shire Council, to their credit, has been placing hundreds of tons of sand around the Surf Lifesaving Clubhouse in an attempt to save the building but the sand is washed away within days of it being placed there. In fact, it often disappears later the same day. The Action
Group commends the Council for their valiant effort to save the Clubhouse but obviously what is desperately needed is for the Government to put in permanent protective works in front of the Clubhouse as a matter of extreme urgency.
They have done exactly that at Silverleaves at Cowes on Phillip Island in recent weeks so the question is why are they saving Silverleaves but walking away from Inverloch?
“People need to be in no doubt, they are planning a short-term temporary fix which will wash away and be lost as they retreat,” Mr. Brown said.
“Last week, highly respected former Woorayl Shire Engineer Keith Godridge, a member of the Action Group, released a comprehensive report on what can be done to save the Inverloch foreshore and community assets permanently.”
People should come to the public meeting this Sunday afternoon where Mr. Godridge will explain his report and take questions.
“I implore people to come to the public meeting and hear first-hand, issues surrounding the present crisis and what can be done to save Inverloch and the homes of hundreds of residents.
“The only thing which will save Inverloch now will be people power,” Mr. Brown said. “Even if your home is not amongst those at risk, please come along to support your neighbours.”
For more information visit the Inverloch Foreshore Action Group’s Facebook page facebook.com/groups/3555316291433437.
