Robbery by stealth as DEECA merges foreshore committees

A FUNDING bombshell has exploded on the San Remo foreshore following revelations the state government has secretly merged two foreshore committees robbing San Remo of half a million dollars in accumulated savings.

The structural amalgamation of the Lang Lang and San Remo foreshore committees was allegedly executed behind closed doors by a departmental delegation in May effectively pooling the financial resources of the two coastal committees.

The decision has triggered an intense council backlash, with local representatives slamming the move as a transparent raid on community money. Bass Coast Shire Council officers have confirmed that the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has now assumed full control of the joint committee.

The substantial $500,000 balance that was sitting in the San Remo foreshore account is no longer ring-fenced for local projects. It can now be legally redirected and spent on infrastructure needs in Lang Lang leaving San Remo in financial limbo.

The issue came to a head at this month’s Bass Coast Council meeting following a June resolution to explore whether the municipality should take over management responsibilities for both foreshore committees.

With a formal response from the state minister still outstanding, a preliminary risk assessment of a full council takeover for both committees had raised serious red flags.

Councillor Thompson expressed deep dismay over the department's total lack of transparency. Thompson argued that the two communities share absolutely no geographical, economic, or logical connection that justified a shared committee.

Instead, she suggested the merger was a strategic, predatory move to access San Remo’s healthy financial reserves to fund urgent coastal challenges elsewhere.

"San Remo and Lang Lang are miles apart," Councillor Thompson stated. "There is no real justification to merge other than to access the funds for use at Lang Lang."

While acknowledging that Lang Lang faced significant infrastructure deficits and severe coastal erosion councillors strongly rejected the idea that San Remo ratepayers should foot the bill.

Local residents have spent years contributing to the half-million-dollar nest egg through local caravan park fees, parking, and community fundraising with the expectation  those funds would be reinvested into upgrading local piers, walking tracks, and retaining walls.

As public anger grows, Bass Coast Shire Council is under pressure to escalate the matter. Community groups are demanding an urgent meeting with DEECA to demand that San Remo’s money be legally protected and returned to local control.

Councillor Thompson called for an immediate renegotiation of the current memorandum of understanding urging the state government to match the $500,000 allocation outlined in the council’s long-term financial plan for the San Remo street skate project. Thompson accused DEECA of "robbing Peter to pay Paul by stealth."

Councillor Halstead strongly backed the claims labelling DEECA’s actions an "absolute disgrace." According to Halstead, DEECA secretly amalgamated the two local foreshore committees without community consultation.

Council is urging the local state member to intervene and demand that the state government directly fund Lang Lang rather than draining San Remo’s resources.

Councillor Halstead noted that $500,000 had already been allocated in the long-term financial plan for desperately needed footpath and infrastructure works in San Remo.

Several councillors strongly opposed pitting the two coastal communities against each other for limited resources.

“Poor little Lang Lang is not the enemy here,” said Cr Morgan joining Cr Temby in backing calls to lobby the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) for independent funding.

Council argued that both the Lang Lang and San Remo foreshores faced severe financial and environmental risks that required separate management committees and external financial support.

While Council saw merit in managing the San Remo Foreshore, a recent report warned  that the Lang Lang Foreshore required massive upgrades. Council currently performs all routine cleaning, waste management, and maintenance on the San Remo foreshore at no cost to the state.

In addition to moving to halt the committee takeover council remains committed to the area's development. A $500,000 allocation has been secured within the Long Term Financial Plan for Streetscape Planning in 2027/2028 with matching state funding to execute a coordinated upgrade of the Marine Parade precinct.