By Bruce Wardley
CONCERNED over sporadic maintenance, lack of on-ground management and stalled improvements to the San Remo foreshore local residents and landowners are calling for a better pathway forward.
“There has effectively been no active management since 2019 and the deterioration is plain to see,” said San Remo Community Association president Mark Jamison.
“The San Remo Community Association is committed to returning the 27.5 hectare foreshore reserve to community management, something that worked extremely well for decades,” Mr Jamison said.
“San Remo is the fastest-growing town in the region surrounded by water on three sides, and the foreshore is central to both our identity and our future.
“It needs urgent reinstatement, management, and proper planning, something only a dedicated, local committee can provide. The current management is unacceptable.”
Secretary of the San Remo Community Association, Susan Alcock said responsibility for the area was split between Parks Victoria to the high water mark, Bass Coast Shire for the retail precinct,
VicRoads to the pine trees alongside the Phillip Island Road, and DEECA for the foreshore.
“DEECA is managed from Traralgon and has refused to do maintenance,” said Ms Alcock.
“Bass Coast Shire had to step in as a goodwill gesture to clear scrub and provide access to walking tracks and pick up rubbish,” said Ms Alcock.
“The path hasn’t been maintained, signs can’t be read, and there’s graffiti on the walls.
“The San Remo Community Association has exciting plans for the foreshore including a concrete all-abilities walking track from the Post Office to Lions Park.
“We’re missing out on grants.”
Despite repeated requests over several months through Bass Coast MP Jordan Crugnale, the San Remo Community Association said it is yet to meet with DEECA.
“This neglect and total lack of accountability needs to change,” said Mark Jamison.
“The community has made it clear we want the foreshore returned to local, accountable hands, we’re not just volunteers, we are an incorporated association with experienced committed and locally engaged committee members.”
The foreshore is in desperate need of maintenance upgrades according to Eastern Region Nationals’ MP Melina Bath.
“For years a Committee of Management oversaw the 27-hectare reserve but that changed in 2019 when DEECA took over,” said Ms Bath.
The San Remo Community Association has strong community backing.
“No point in getting angry,” said Ms Alcock.
“If we’ve got a problem we need to find a pathway. We need to clean up the town. Ongoing maintenance is really the biggest problem.”
The plan is for safer, accessible footpaths, better signage and amenities, new facilities like a toilet block, saltwater pool, skate park, and recreation centre.
“The retaining wall needs replacing,” said Ms Alcock.
“You can’t muck around in this environment. Tidy up, relocate, fix it. It’s about public access.”