|
The South Gippsland Conservation Society wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands we meet and work in – the Bunurong People - and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.
|
|
|
Conservation Society News
|
|
Project Updates
|
|
|
Inverloch Coastal Resilience Project (ICRP)
 Beach monitoring is continuing with drone surveys undertaken under the Victorian Coastal Monitoring Project and our laser level surveys, albeit with some disruption due to the recent COVID lockdown. Additional monitoring posts have been installed to enable more detailed analysis of the impact of the Cape Paterson Road rock wall and the shoreline erosion that is occurring at Rotary Park in Anderson Inlet.
Our February 2021 Surf Beach Monitoring report documented the accelerating coastline recession that occurred over the Wreck Creek section of coast during 2020, with the eastern section of the creek now at risk of being swept away without intervention. Since its release, the ICRP project team has been advocating for active dune management of this section of coast, comprising a combination of dune renourishment, wet sand fencing and dune revegetation. The aim of these proposed low-level interventions is to provide interim short-term protection while the Victorian Government’s Cape to Cape Resilience Project continues to develop a long-term strategy for the Inverloch coast.
Communication continues with members of the Inverloch Coastal Protection Inter-Agency Working Group and meetings held with Bass Coast Shire Mayor Brett Tessari and local State MP Jordan Crugnale. These efforts have not yet led to any commitments for pro-active on-ground works. However, DELWP has assured us that they are monitoring the situation closely and that, if intervention is required, their preferred approach would be the low-level intervention that we are advocating.
If you are interested in assisting with our monitoring efforts and advocacy to achieve protection of this vulnerable section of coastline (as well as the remaining mature coast banksias at Flat Rocks), please contact Philip Heath (philipjheath@bigpond.com) or Dave Sutton (daves@dsci.net.au).
- Philip Heath
|
|
|
Cape to Cape Resilience Project
The Victorian Government’s Cape to Cape Resilience Project website is now live. The website provides information about the scope of the project and the Inverloch Region Coastal Hazard Assessment, a key technical input being undertaken by consultants Water Technology.
The Coastal Hazard Assessment commenced in January 2021, and is due to be completed in late 2021. Investigations underway include a review of all available data, analysis of historic and recent changes on the coast and modelling of the potential impact of predicted future changes, including rising sea levels and changing wind and wave climates. These investigations will inform the development of feasible long-term, strategic adaptation responses for the coast, with the end product being the Cape to Cape Coastal Resilience Plan.
SGCS has provided a wide range of inputs to the consultants, drawn for our 2019 Inverloch Coastal Resilience Project report and our two Beach Monitoring Reports, as well as storm photographs taken between 2018-2021.
An inspection of Inverloch Surf Beach was undertaken, and a workshop held, with the project’s Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG) in May 2021. The SRG was provided with an update of study progress to date and planned broader community consultations. Input was also sought on the drivers of change and the values SRG members ascribe to a resilient coast. An on-line community survey is planned during June and a community event currently scheduled for July.
Alluvium consultants, who are leading the community engagement component of the project, have made contact with SGCS. We are providing them with key findings of the environmental and community values analysis contained in our ICRP project report and our 2020 Coastline in Crisis documentary. This includes the results of the community survey undertaken in conjunction with the 3-month public exhibition that we mounted at the Inverloch Hub, the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club and Wonthaggi Library in 2019.
If you would like any additional information about the Cape to Cape Resilience Project, and if you have any information, such as historical photos of Inverloch surf beach and Anderson Inlet, historical media articles of local coastline recession and personal recollections, please contact Philip Heath (philipjheath@bigpond.com).
- Philip Heath
|
|
|
Wonthaggi’s Hidden Gem – Recreation and Ecosystems for the Future - Carney’s Road, Wonthaggi
Site Clean-up and Rubbish Removal
Sunday, 20 June 9:30am to 11:30am
 This is the first working bee since the Covid-19 lockdown(s) that prevented any significant volunteer input for most of 2020. Despite this disruption we were able to complete construction of the wetland and, thanks to the ‘Working for Victoria’ crew, employed by Bass Coast Shire we were able to get more than 2400 plants in the ground.
This is the first of several working bees this year which will include further clean-up of the site and planting.
What: Continue to remove years of accumulated rubbish from the site, remove tree guards off plants that did not survive and, where required repair any guards on surviving plants.
Where: Carney’s Rd, Wonthaggi.
Carney’s Rd is the last road turning off the Bass Hwy on the eastern border of Wonthaggi; RHS travelling out of Wonthaggi and LHS travelling from Inverloch. It leads to the industrial estate south of the Bass Hwy. Turning onto Carney’s Rd from the Bass Hwy, continue straight down the road onto the gravel. Approximately 150 metres straight ahead is the site.
Bring: Yourself, friends and neighbours, lots of energy, wet weather gear if it looks like rain and a water bottle. If you have a wooden mallet or light hammer, solid wheelbarrow with an air-filled tyre that you can fit in your car it would be useful.
Wear: Good work boots/solid shoes that protect your ankles and, as there are glass fragments and sharp steel edges among some of the rubbish, heavy work/gardening gloves and a hat.
We Will Provide: Bags to put the rubbish in.
For more information call: Dave (0419 230 110) or Linda (0426 923 024).
Hope to see you there!
 Wonthaggi’s Hidden Gem – Recreation and Ecosystems for the Future is fully funded by the Victorian State Govt’s Pick My Project.
|
|
|
Would you eat an insect?
Here are four reasons insects could become a staple in the Australian diet:
1. Australia has a long tradition of eating insects - First Nations Australians have been eating insects for tens of thousands of years, including iconic native species such as witjuti grubs that taste like nutty scrambled eggs, bogong moths that taste like peanut butter, or zesty lime green tree ants.
2. Insects can help improve our health - Edible insects are not only tasty, but also are a great source of high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, folic acid and vitamins B12, C and E.
 
3. Edible insect foods are already available - This might seem like a food of the future, but edible insect products are already available to buy in some Australian supermarkets.
4. Farming insects is better for the environment - Compared to conventionally farmed animals like beef, pork and chicken, insects produce fewer greenhouse gases because they don’t poop nearly as much and don’t usually ferment food in their guts that produces methane.
Read the full article in The Conversation.
|
|
|
|
South Gippsland Shire Council has been hard at work clearing roads since the devastating storms last week.
|
|
|
|
Sunday 20 June Working Bee - Carney's Road, Wonthaggi - 9:30 to 11:30 am
|
|
|
Deadline for contributions
We would love to share uyour photographs and stories in the newsletter. Please send your contributions by Friday 25 June. Email to info@sgcs.org.au.
|
|
|
|
|
