On the edge: Corangamite Labor MP Darren Cheeseman and Great Ocean Road Coast Committee’s Richard Davies inspect coastal erosion.
By Cherie Donnellan
VICROADS will consider a new report warning that climate change could damage the Great Ocean Road, according to a spokesperson.
VicRoads south-western regional director Will Tieppo said the road authority would “consider the outcomes” of the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee study.
The committee commissioned consultant Sinclair Knight Merz to undertake the study, finding that flooding would threaten 13.4km of the road by 2100, based on state planning predictions for sea level rises.
Erosion was a threat to 33km if sea levels rose the state’s planning benchmark of .8m by 2100, the report said.
Flooding would threaten $21.7 million of infrastructure including boat ramps, car parks and caravan parks. Erosion was a risk for $137 million of infrastructure.
The report also cited 22 of 33 “registered indigenous cultural heritage assets” would be exposed to erosion and eight to flooding.
More than 380ha of native vegetation, including endangered plant species, were at risk of flooding and over 700 to erosion.
Mr Tieppo said VicRoads was conducting its own study of the ocean road between Marengo and Skenes Creek.
The study would examine the “causes and effects” of sand movement and erosion to recommend “long-term remedial treatments”, he said.
“VicRoads will consider the outcomes of the broader GORCC climate change report alongside DSE’s coastal hazards management report.”
Planning Minister Matthew Guy last month introduced changes to climate change planning guidelines.
