NO SURF lifesaving club, no road and dozens of homes lost, that’s the dire assessment given by Inverloch Foreshore Action Group (IFAG) if the state government sticks to its proposed ‘planned retreat’ solution.
In response to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action’s (DEECA) recent Cape to Cape Resilience Plan Update 11, IFAG have released their own Surf Beach erosion report.
The report, compiled by Keith Godridge, a former Woorayl Shire engineer for two decades and with an engineering career in local governments spanning over 32 years, highlights the inaction of the government and solutions that should be considered urgently.
One of the important aspects is the Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Club (ISLC), which is under severe threat of being lost to erosion.
The report calls for the use of rock revetments, such as those used on Phillip Island, and rock bags.
“The erosion presents immediate threats to ISLC, Cape Paterson Road, Surf Parade, 35 homes and critical infrastructure. A permanent and effective solution to prevent further erosion is now urgent,” the report states.
It is critical of certain measures such as wet sand fencing at Surf Beach stating it was a “dismal failure", sandbags outside the clubhouse which initially worked but are “beginning to deteriorate” and sacrificial sand, also labelled “ongoing, temporary and a waste of money”.
It praises the use of rock revetment, highlighting how its installation at Cape Paterson and Surf Parade intersection was ‘completely effective’ with sand built up around the base rocks.
Speaking about his report, Mr Godridge highlighted he’s lived in Inverloch for 29 years and the importance of the surf club where his grandchildren were part of the nippers program.
“It's just awful the way it’s been dragging on and on and nothing's been happening and there have been funds available,” he said.
“The Cape to Cape study has been an absolute fiasco, nothing has come out of it, it’s just ongoing.
“We’re told they’re looking at pumping sand from the inlet; if you’re pumping it, it comes out as a slurry, which is very prone to be washed away. It’s just not possible for it to have any effect.”
Mr Godridge said rock revetment would be the best solution, or as he dubs it ‘hard engineering’.
“I'm looking at the whole job, the 2.1 kilometres, but I can't imagine how we could possibly get enough big rocks to do that,” he said.
“But the solution, fortunately, is a new invention called rock bags,” he said.
“They're easily filled and the rocks are available.
“It's got a lifting ring at the top so they can be just easily picked up and placed exactly where needed.
“The bags have a stated lifetime of 60 plus years. They’re far cheaper than sandbags and are flexible to be moved around.”
Also present at the release of the report was IFAG member Kirk De Marchi, who expressed frustration that the area had been “one of the most analysed stretches of beach in Victoria” but the government’s approach is to retreat.
“For all that money, for all that data and for all that resources and time, they've produced an outcome that's effectively told us that there's nothing that we can do about it,” Mr De Marchi said.
“It just seems like utter incompetence and an utter waste of resources.”
Committee member Alan Brown, also an Inverloch resident and former leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria, highlighted that retreat meant the loss of the clubhouse, road and homes.
“When the road is cut off between Inverloch and the RACV facility, among those dramatically affected will be the tourism sector and traders in Inverloch,” he said.
“It is estimated that some traders in Inverloch will lose up to 40 per cent of their turnover, which will devastate those businesses.”
Ultimately, they are calling for the government to adopt the report and for works to commence immediately.
The group will also be requesting a meeting with Member for Bass, Jordan Crugnale MP and plan to hold an ‘Inverloch at risk emergency meeting’ on Sunday, July 13 at 1.30pm at the Inverloch community hub.
Read the full report here.