Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Eastern Victoria Region

Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:52): (1609) My question is to the Minister for Environment. Minister, in March this year you stood with the member for Bass and said that you were solving coastal erosion emergency situations in Bass, and you said:

… we are going to do really important coastal mitigation works to make sure our beaches and our coastal areas are safe and accessible …

Well, the reality is vastly different. Six weeks ago the department laid what could be called large tea bags – rock-filled bags – along the Silverleaves beachfront, not the geotextile sandbags that were requested through a government department report. Since then they have had high tides and surges, and they have failed. They have categorically failed, as has the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club, which is teetering on the edge because its sandbags have failed. Minister, what are you doing to save Silverleaves and the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club?