THE $3 million-plus Bayview Avenue Drainage Renewal and Flood Mitigation works at Inverloch are finished… or are they?
In an update on the Bass Coast Shire Council’s website, the shire says its part of the job was due to be completed by Friday, August 22.
And that’s indeed what happened with a brand-spanking new seal on the road by the weekend.
That could have been the happy end of it, for local residents, with some bonus work on kerbs and footpaths.
“The opportunity to renew some additional areas of kerb and footpath has been identified within the project work area, resulting in the temporary sealing being delayed,” said a spokesperson for the council.
“Temporary seal and road opening is currently scheduled to be completed by Friday, August 22. Some additional kerb and footpath renewal works will continue towards Willliam Street in preparation for the extension of the asphalt resurfacing.
“This will be completed under traffic management conditions with the road remaining open.”
But oh dear. The shire has been reportedly pleading with South Gippsland Water for months to schedule proposed works to renew the water main at Bayview Avenue at the same time as the road was ripped up for drain renewal and flood works.
But, you guessed it, they couldn’t get their act into gear in time and a large swarth of the area, we’re told, will have to be ripped up again for the replacement of the water main.
Local residents have praised the Bass Coast Shire Council for committing to the delicate project, which will save dozens of houses in the vicinity from stormwater flooding every time it rains, and also the shire’s contractors for the sensitive way they’ve gone about the project, but they’re not happy with South Gippsland Water.
“The work needed to be done to alleviate the flooding problems for some houses from stormwater run-off, but South Gippsland Water couldn’t get their butts into gear in time,” said local resident Lewis Stone.
“The shire was already digging up the road for their works and it would have been ideal for South Gippsland Water to do theirs at the same time.
“Now they’ll have to dig it all up again and they’ll either need to work around the shire’s pipes or pull some of it out. How much is that going to cost?
“It’s pretty frustrating when local authorities can’t work together but, from what I’ve heard, it’s not for want of trying by the council.”
South Gippsland Water has advised that they are planning to undertake the works in September 2025.
