INVERLOCH has been included in a coastal hazard warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology ahead of a long-anticipated convergence of a major storm and high tides.
The warning is for all parts of East Gippsland, South West, West and South Gippsland and Central Forecast Districts.
The bureau has warned of abnormally high tides which may lead to sea water flooding of low-lying areas along the Victorian coast including Bass Coast and South Gippsland.
Tides are likely to rise well above the normal high tide mark with the highest tides expected during the afternoon and evening high tides on Tuesday.
Whether the storm surge and high tides will be of sufficient strength to cause major damage is not known at this stage, but the Inverloch Foreshore Action Group (IFAG) has renewed calls for immediate, transparent and decisive action to address the escalating erosion crisis along the Inverloch foreshore.
IFAG has urged the State Government to take responsibility for a lack of permanent protective measures on the Inverloch surf beach and the breakdown in meaningful community engagement.
The Inverloch community group says it is increasingly alarmed over the lack of real long-term, permanent solutions from the government to address foreshore erosion.
Local MP Jordan Crugnale acknowledged in recent communications to local residents that they have watched with alarm for the past 10 years.
“No one watches with alarm for 10 years,” said Kim White, Chair of IFAG.
Regional and rural Victoria including Inverloch is being sacrificed for the much troubled Big Build according to IFAG and despite a $3.3 million commitment from the former Federal Government more than three years ago to support on-ground works, no permanent works have yet been delivered.
The only monies expended so far have been on consultants according to IFAG and the only works delivered have been by Bass Coast Shire Council.
“We cannot get a clear answer on any financial question put forward,” said IFAG.
The recent announcement of additional funds for erosion works funding has been equally nebulous according to IFAG.
Exact amounts for specific project works “are still being worked out”.
Equally concerning to the community is the continued failure of the State Government to deliver on promises of genuine and transparent community consultation.
“The original consultation process was widely regarded as inadequate, some would say contrived to reach a predetermined result, lacking transparency and failing to reflect the depth of local knowledge and concern.
“Since then, multiple commitments to re-engage the community including in early 2025 and again in mid-May 2025 have not been honoured,” said Kim White.
The Action Group is also questioning the long-term effectiveness of proposed sand renourishment efforts citing local experience that has shown sand placed along the foreshore is rapidly washed away, offering little enduring protection.
“Without a comprehensive and engineering-led approach, the threat to public infrastructure and community assets will only intensify,” said Ms White.
“The proposed 110,000 cubic metres of sand replacement is less than half of what the consulting groups estimate has been lost from the surf beach.”
“Clearly what is being proposed is inadequate, both now and certainly into the future,” Ms White said.
The Action Group is particularly troubled by ongoing reliance on the adapt and retreat policy which it believes places an unfair burden on the local community to accept gradual loss of land and infrastructure without adequate government intervention.
The Inverloch Foreshore Action Group has called on the State Government to clarify the balance of the committed funds and release the money immediately, invest in lasting protective works based on sound coastal engineering advice, not the artificially constrained current version, and initiate genuine and transparent community consultation as promised.
“Inverloch residents remain ready to work with all levels of government to secure the future of their foreshore, but they need true leadership, not further delays and certainly no further political spin.”
The Victoria State Emergency Service and Life Saving Victoria has advised that over the next few days people should not walk, ride or drive through flood waters, stay away from beaches, tidal rivers and creeks, and if you have a boat or water craft, haul it out of the water if possible, or check the moorings are secure.
The bureau is predicting north-westerly winds for the local coast on Tuesday of 25km/h to 30 km/h increasing to 35 km/h before turning south-westerly at 25km/h to 30 km/h in the early afternoon.
Abnormally high tides will impact Inverloch and surrounding waters this week rising from 2.8 metres on Tuesday, May 27 at 11.30am to three metres on Thursday (1.30pm) and Friday (2.22pm) this week.
For more information on the latest storm warnings go to bom.gov.au/vic/warnings.
