VICTORIA’S Minister for Environment has responded to a question raised in parliament by Danny O’Brien, the Member for Gippsland South, about funding to address erosion at Loch Sport.

Ingrid Stitt provided the response on March 20, over six weeks after Mr O’Brien asked his question on February 8.

“To address the challenges faced by communities such as Loch Sport due to the impacts of coastal erosion, the Andrews Labor Government developed and launched the statewide Marine and Coastal Strategy in 2022,” Ms Stitt said.

“This Strategy outlines how we will adapt to sea level changes and build resilience in our coastal communities, including managing coastal hazards and impacts on coastlines, towns and landmarks.

“Importantly, the Victorian Government allocated $16.9 million in the last budget towards various initiatives to address critical erosion and flood risks, protect marine and coastal assets and support the adaptation and resilience of coastal communities.

“These investments are critical to enabling agencies and land managers to continue monitoring and responding to areas of high risk.

“The erosion issues facing the Loch Sport Foreshore, especially the section adjacent to Seagull Drive boat ramp and National Park Road, are complex.

“Erosion of the coastal Crown land has occurred impacting coastal infrastructure – in particular, the coastal walking path.

“However, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) advises that erosion and inundation risk to freehold property is not immediate.

“I am advised that the the Loch Sport Foreshore Coastal Processes and Options Assessment was completed by BMT Global on May 23, 2022.

“This study considered both short and long-term management and adaptation options to manage the impacts of erosion and inundation, in accordance with the Victorian Marine and Coastal Policy 2020.

“The Loch Sport community was engaged about the options and recommendations detailed in the report in November 2022, with the results of this engagement distributed in December 2022.

“DEECA is seeking to engage a suitably qualified supplier to undertake concept designs that address the adaption options and recommendations detailed in the BMT Global report of 2022.

“These designs, expected to be completed by June 2023, will allow for the construction/implementation of some short term coastal protection measures, whilst providing concept designs for longer term adaption options.”

A spokesperson for the government had confirmed to the Gippsland Times in July 2022 that $400,000 has been set aside to “undertake immediate works to address public safety risk at Loch Sport and design and implement a preferred adaptation pathway”.

This $400,000 is understood to be part of the $16.9 million in Ms Ingrid’s answer.

In response, Mr O’Brien said that the state government has been examining action to address the erosion on the Lake Victoria foreshore for years but had consistently failed to commit the funds required to implement any real solutions.

“We’ve had around eight reports over the past ten or so years, but following community consultation, the most recent report indicated that the construction of 28 groynes was the preferred method for moving forward,” Mr O’Brien said.

“This would help address the erosion that is eating away at public land and walking tracks and ultimately may threaten private property.

“The costing outlined in the Loch Sport Foreshore Coastal Processes and Options Assessment Report for the implementation of these groynes was estimated to fall somewhere between $5 million and $7 million with an estimated annual cost of between $600k and $750k.

“We need to see a commitment to implementing this reflected in the 2023-2024 State Budget.”

Mr O’Brien claimed the state government had drip-fed hundreds of thousands of dollars into short-term measures and reports over the past decade but failed to implement any long-term solutions.

“My concern is that we are just being given lip service and that at the end of all the reports, studies and consultations, we are going to be left with a huge invoice and no one willing to foot the bill,” he said.

“I have been campaigning with the local community for several years to get a solution to this problem, and it is great we are finally getting somewhere, but we need funding for concrete actions.

“The reports are done, the consultation is done, and it is time to put the money on the table implement the recommendations before we find ourselves wasting more money fixing preventable problems.”

The Victorian State Budget will be delivered on Tuesday, May 23.