Inverloch’s fight to protect surf club continues

More than 80 volunteers braved some very wet weather on Saturday, September 26 to start revegetating some of the reconstructed dunes outside the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club.

Volunteers planted around the first 2000 indigenous shrubs and grasses during the community planting day.

The South Gippsland Conservation Society guided the work, and the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club provided a barbecue afterwards and also helped out on the day.

Society president Ed Thexton admitted the exposed dune was an unusual and difficult place to establish plants, especially with summer approaching.

"What we’re trying to do here is to reduce the amount of wind-blown sand going into the surf club," he said.

Mr Thexton said the plants wouldn't stop waves if water reached the site, but their growth above the sand would help reduce wind erosion.

The plants were placed deep in the dunes, with water holding crystals added to improve their chances of survival.

An irrigation system has also been installed.

"That’s a pretty unusual thing for most indigenous plantings, but this is a pretty unusual site," Mr Thexton said of the irrigation system.

The planting followed the completion of dredging and sand renourishment works along Inverloch Surf Beach.

It was a long time coming, after the event had previously been postponed because the dunes were still an active construction site.

The broader revegetation program has called for 20,000 plants this year and another 20,000 next year.

But Mr Thexton said this year’s planting would be reduced because the renourishment works finished later than expected.

Whether the remaining plants are put in by volunteers, contractors or a combination of both is still being worked out.

Philip Heath, who has led the society’s Inverloch Coastal Resilience Project, said Saturday was a special occasion, as it marked an important moment following years of campaigning for action.

"I guess today was sort of a milestone for the local community, given that we’ve been advocating for action for so long," he said.

"And now it’s an opportunity for the local community to actually work with what’s been done by DEECA and funding by the Victorian Government to make it a success."

Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club president Glenn Arnold said it was good to finally see plants going in the dunes after years of planning.

“In the practical sense, I guess there’s a little bit less fear in whether we’re going to sink or not, or wash away,” he said.

The club's beach access point has now reopened, although its inflatable rescue boat ramp still needs smoothing before the summer patrol season.

Hamilton visitor Megan Dunn joined the planting with her family after regularly holidaying in Inverloch for about 10 years.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to get together as a family and a community, to invest time in such worthwhile, ongoing projects,” she said.

The work wrapped up at 12pm, leaving volunteers time to enjoy the club’s barbecue and watch what ended up being an absolute thriller between the Brisbane Lions and the Fremantle Dockers.