Thursday, 4 December 2025

 Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:41): (2057) My question is for the Minister for Environment. Residents in Inverloch are deeply concerned that the government has failed to act on severe and worsening coastal erosion, which has placed homes, community infrastructure and the surf lifesaving club at risk. Freedom-of-information documents reveal the government received $3.3 million in federal funding three years ago for urgent on-ground erosion works, identified as essential to protecting Inverloch’s foreshore and critical infrastructure. But the government has not spent a single dollar, despite its own department stating that works were a priority and needed to begin as soon as possible, with a two-year completion window. Since then Inverloch has lost more than 70 metres of foreshore, lifesavers have been forced to shift emergency access routes and locals have repeatedly warned the coastline is in imminent danger. Given that the funds were secured, the risks were identified as urgent and the locals have already endured years of delay, will the minister explain why the government has failed to begin these works within the required timeframe and outline to residents when they can expect it – (Time expired)