Inverloch surf beach
Jordan CRUGNALE (Bass) (19:06): (1223) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Environment, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide an update on the timing of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action’s community engagement activities regarding the Inverloch surf beach erosion and dune reconstruction project and the release of the final cape-to-cape resilience plan report. The need for further engagement is clear. A recent public meeting organised and hosted by active local residents attracted over 350 attendees. This is strong evidence that the community is seeking information, transparency, meaningful involvement and practical ways to help best protect our beach and public assets. In addition to my now two update letters to every household, as to ongoing communication through my office my team and I this week established an information stand at the Inverloch hub to help keep locals updated and informed and to disseminate the most relevant of DEECA’s cape-to-cape resources. The South Gippsland Conservation Society is also planning two additional engagement activities to support community understanding.
This is a community that wants to be involved. It wants to hear from and have conversations with DEECA. It wants to hear from the coastal engineer experts. It wants to hear why the large-scale dune reconstruction engineering project, planned to start this spring, is the first adaptation pathway recommended and chosen, and it wants to hear, learn and have the opportunity to ask questions. The science, data, modelling and technical assessment studies have all been done and have informed water technologies experts and coastal engineers. Locals have consistently voiced their wish to retain sandy beaches for as long as possible, which in turn helps to protect both public and private assets. I look forward to sharing this update with my local community.