HONESTLY, to look at it, the next storm surge at Inverloch could start to undermine the foundations of the surf club.
Certainly, it looked that way as moderate waves, on the end of a relatively high tide last Sunday, continued to cut away sand at both ends of the geotextile bag wall only metres from the clubrooms.
But, according to the President of the Inverloch Tourism Association, Glenn Morris, a member of the Inverloch Coastal Advisory Network (I*CAN), that won’t be allowed to happen.
Speaking to the Sentinel-Times this week after a meeting of the group last Friday, May 30, which includes representatives of the Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Club, South Gippsland Conservation Society, Inverloch Tourism Association and general community speaking directly with representatives of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Mr Morris said the announcement of a works plan was imminent.
“We have been told that we will see a draft design of the works, which will include extensions of the geotextile bag wall at both ends, Wreck Creek drainage works and dune work along the beach in the next three weeks,” said Mr Morris.
Funding for the works will come from a package of $10 million, announced on March 19 this year to deliver restoration work and repairs at locations including Black Rock, Inverloch, Loch Sport, Tooradin, Silverleaves and Warrnambool.
“While they’re getting that work done, there will be a continuation of sand placement between now and spring to deal with the ongoing scouring at either end of the geotextile wall,” he said.
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) released its draft Cape to Cape (C2C) Resilience Plan for comment in August 2024.
In response, the Inverloch Coastal Advisory Network (I*CAN) was formed in September 2024 to provide a focused and aligned community voice representing the Inverloch community in dealings with
DEECA and State/local government relating to the coastal erosion issues and the finalisation/implementation of the C2C Resilience Plan.
In the draft C2C Resilience Plan, Stage 1 of the Pathway for Inverloch Surf Beach involves Beach Renourishment/Dune Reconstruction and Revegetation.
I*CAN fully supports the proposed Stage 1 program and is liaising with DEECA on revegetation and “best practice” measures to maximise resilience of the reconstructed dunes. Design will soon be completed with works planned to be carried out in spring this year.
“It is vital that the Stage 1 works are completed by the end of spring this year as the remaining dunes at Inverloch Surf Beach are at risk and cannot go through another cycle of high tides/storm surges similar to July/August 2024 when large quantities of sand eroded from the Surf Beach over a five-day period,” said Mr Morris.
The I*CAN action list:
1. Funding commitments to implement the full Beach Renourishment/Dune Reconstruction and Vegetation spanning from Flat Rocks to Point Norman - a minimum of 250,000 cubic metres of sand is needed well in excess of the 100,000 cubic metres than the current budget for DEECA allows.
2. Funding commitments to implement the recommended Final C2C Pathway of works required over the medium term including ongoing Beach Renourishment/Dune Reconstruction on Surf Beach/Flat Rocks.
3. Establishment of a Terminal Barrier for the Surf Beach capable of withstanding major storm surge events-ideally located along Surf Parade beachside of the existing and future pedestrian/bike pathways (subject to a feasibility assessment).
4. Release of the Final C2C Report before July this year – I*CAN sees no reason why the Minister cannot sign off on the C2C Resilience Plan before Stage 1 of the Plan starts work in spring this year.
5. Prompt completion of the necessary final designs and tendering of works for the Stage 1 Beach Renourishment/Dune Reconstruction work to enable completion of the Works before the 2025 summer season.
6. Completion of Protection Works for Inverloch Surf Club and Wreck Creek by the end of spring 2025 via adequate funding being made available by the Minister to DEECA to ensure a full scope can be designed and built.
7. Pipeline infrastructure built for sand slurry pumping as part of Stage 1 Works to be undertaken as permanent infrastructure which can be used in ongoing future Beach Renourishment/Dune Reconstruction works subject to feasibility assessment
8. Sand dredging beyond Stage 1 to be carried out in locations that lead to re-establishment of the Main Channel adjacent to Point Norman to re-establish ebb tide delta and the Hydraulic Groyne at the entrance to Anderson Inlet-such conditions tend to limit coastal sand drift away from the surf beach.
“It’s all about funding,” said Mr Morris.
“The recent State Government budget has no money set aside for climate adaptation works in Victoria let alone Inverloch. I*CAN does not accept the argument that no money is available given the increased levels of debt which the recent budget has forecast. Long-term protection of the Inverloch coastline requires a program of Beach Renourishment/Dune Reconstruction works and Terminal
Protection which will be ongoing for many years ahead.”
I*CAN is calling on State/Federal Governments and Opposition parties to commit the funds needed for DEECA to be able to implement the Inverloch Pathway over the medium and long term
“I*CAN will now extend our efforts to informing the community on the Pathway Works that we feel is needed for protecting Inverloch in the long term-Works that require funding commitments by Governments,” he said.
“We plan on consulting with the community through a combination of mailouts, public meetings, online communication and will explain what is needed through clear graphics and in a language that is understandable by members of the community.
“The community has a very important role in securing funding and must be with us in force to ensure we can commit the Government of the need to finance our future” says Mr Morris.
I*CAN firmly believes that the short, medium and long term risks associated with beach erosion can be significantly reduced by implementing a well-planned and fully funded ‘best practice’ program of works. Advocating for making this happen will be the focus of I*CAN going forward.
Background
I*CAN has prepared and agreed with DEECA on a Terms of Reference stipulating its four key responsibilities when engaging with DEECA and acting on the community’s behalf on Inverloch Coastal erosion management issues, namely:
1. Advisory role: Reviewing technical and project proposals and providing constructive advice/recommendations/feedback to align with “community” needs
2. Monitoring role: Monitor the project implementation and ensure timelines and scope of proposed works align with community needs. Identify potential opportunities for Improvement
3. Community Advocacy role: Ensure local community perspectives and needs are sought and accounted for during project implementation
4. Community Participation role: Mobilise community resources to participate in works implementation.
What has I*CAN achieved so far?
For the past seven months, I*CAN has been advocating and influencing on a number of fronts:
* Proposing a seven-point Surf Beach Operation Continuity plan for 2024/25 Summer period-a Plan very positively received by Bass Coast Council who implemented the Plan.
* Developing technical ideas for the Stage 1 Dune Reconstruction works in areas of Sand Sourcing/Inlet Channel Management/Dune Revegetation/Sand Slurry Transfer.
* Advocating strongly for the Final C2C Resilience Plan Pathway to emphasise PROTECTION ahead of RETREAT in the long-term efforts to preserve the Inverloch beaches and township - I*CAN is hopeful an additional “ Protection” step will be included in the Inverloch Surf Beach Adaptation Pathway and incorporated in the Final C2C Report due for release at end of 2025.
* I*CAN has proposed alternative Engineering options which can be implemented in future Pathway works to afford such extra Protection for Inverloch.
* Lobbying for extra funds to carry out immediate Protection works for the Surf Club and Wreck Creek drainage improvements. These works are now being designed by DEECA using additional funding recently announced by the State Minister and will be built this year.
But the future of Inverloch and its coastline needs an ongoing Beach Renourishment/Dune Reconstruction program for the decades ahead -substantially more than the Dune works being undertaken this year.
“DEECA are only able to design and build the extent of Beach Renourishment/Dune Reconstruction works possible within the funding budgets assigned by the Federal and State Government. More money is needed than is currently assigned,” according to I*CAN’s Glenn Morris.
I*CAN’s concerns and focus go well beyond the Stage 1 works and centre on the protection of Inverloch in the medium/long term.
“I*CAN’s focus will now centre on informing the community and galvanising their support to gain commitments from State and Federal Governments and opposition to fully fund the longer term
Pathway program of works for the Inverloch coastline,” Mr Morris said.
“I*CAN is very clear on what actions need to be taken to adapt and prolong the life of our beaches and our overall township.”
