Election bid ramps up with opposition visit

IN A surprise visit to Bass Coast last week, the Liberal and Nationals Party have laid their cards on the table revealing they would commit $6m for erosion at Inverloch if elected. 

Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Guy, as well as Liberal Candidate for Bass, Aaron Brown and Nationals Candidate for Bass, former shire mayor and current councillor, Brett Tessari made the announcement at Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club.

The funding will go towards addressing erosion at Inverloch Surf Beach, which has seen rapid erosion of the dunes and the coastline rising by almost 70 metres along Wreck Creek in recent years. 

This has caused anxiety in the community on the impact it could have on critical infrastructure and assets, including the Surf Life Saving Club. 

“This is a serious issue right along the Bass Coast, and we must preserve our fragile coastlines so they can be enjoyed for generations to come,” Mr Guy said. 

When asked by the media if there would be further funding to address erosion in other parts of Bass Coast, Mr Guy confirmed the party would commit to this if elected.

“This is the first point and most acute in Bass Coast at Inverloch,” he said.

Mr Tessari, who recently announced his candidacy for Bass, said the community had been screaming out for significant funding for years. 

“(There has been) study after study that has been going for three years and now there’s further delay before the (Cape to Cape project) announcement is put forward.”

The Cape to Cape Resilience Project, a coastal hazard adaptation project, has had a strong focus on the foreshore and surf beach at Inverloch.

The project has been ongoing since 2020, and seeks to combine science, technical assessments and community input to develop a long-term plan to manage the assets and coastal areas of focus into the future. 

However, the project has faced ongoing criticism for delays.

Speaking with the Sentinel-Times following the funding announcement, Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Michael Whelan, welcomed the $6m figure, as council seeks almost $12m in total to address erosion control.

“This is a hot spot for coastal erosion, we’re waiting for the Cape to Cape project to know exactly what we should be doing and we have been asking the (State Labor) government for a forward commitment towards doing that work, on the basis of the project,” he said.
“So $6m is a good start.

“We’re hoping the (state) government will now step up and put that commitment into the area.”

DELWP has installed wet sand fencing and geotextile walls at Inverloch to support immediate protection of the dune system, and support protection of the Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Club and Bunurong Road (Cape Paterson-Inverloch Road). 

Parks Victoria have also committed to short-term mitigation works at Wreck Creek. 

The candidates and Mr Guy also visited Phillip Island Football Netball Club, revealing they would commit $350,000 to extend the facilities.

Mr Tessari said he was proud to have worked closely with the Phillip Island Football Netball Club over the past three years to work out the priority projects, and congratulated the local volunteers for persevering to secure this funding. 

“Community sport is at the heart of strong regional communities, with this investment in modern, comfortable facilities that are fit-for -purpose just one practical way we can support local clubs to attract and retain members,” Mr Tessari said.