Thursday, 19 June 2025

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (17:52): (1745) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Environment. I rise on behalf of the residents of San Remo and the San Remo Community Association, a passionate, proactive and community-minded group who are committed to improving and managing public land spaces on the wonderful San Remo peninsula. San Remo has a proud history of local stewardship, and for many, many years the committee of management has overseen the 27-hectare foreshore reserve. It has worked well, and it has been community-led and deeply accountable to local people, by local people.

But in 2019 that changed when the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action assumed responsibility. Since then, residents have reported that the condition of the foreshore has declined. With no dedicated management, maintenance has been sporadic and important works have stalled. Indeed, visiting the area recently and having a walk around with them, it is quite evident that there is much important basic work to be done.

In contrast, the San Remo Community Association has stepped up. They are capable incorporated volunteers, many of whom have been on previous committees of management. They have had the backing of the town. At a recent community meeting the proposal to return the foreshore management to this group was met with universal, unanimous support. Their vision is ambitious and forward looking. The association wants to deliver safer access to footpaths for elderly families and people with mobility issues; improved signage and public amenity to lift the precinct’s appeal; new facilities, including a toilet block, saltwater pool, skate park and recreation centre; car parking improvements; and stabilisation works to address ongoing cliff erosion. Crucially, they propose using funds already held in a dedicated foreshore account generated through the San Remo foreshore caravan park for these works. They are self-starters.

Minister, in response to this proposal, your department stated that a committee of management is already in place, and the government is not seeking volunteers. This response is deeply disappointing and out of touch. It is not just a handful of helpers; this is a well-established committee, a community-based association with great knowledge, and this group has a plan. So the action I seek from the minister is for him to reconsider the current management arrangement and facilitate the management of the foreshore at San Remo to the San Remo Community Association in recognition of their strong community mandate and demonstrated capacity to deliver.