Residents threaten court action over resumed bid to ‘close’ The Gap

Alex de Vos
Torquay residents have accused Surf Coast’s foreshore manager of resuming its bid to block a floodwater drainage point in sand dunes this week.
Robert Lithgow said residents would take legal action against Great Ocean Road Coast Committee’s bid to block The Gap at White’s Beach.
Mr Lithgow accused the committee of trying to build “man-made dunes” to block The Gap, a popular beach access point.
He believed the committee was working against the environment this week when it dumped “truckloads” of sand and soil on the gap to build up dunes.
Mr Lithgow feared the work would obscure residents’ ocean views, devalue properties and destroy a natural watercourse.
In 2007 the Independent first revealed residents’ battle to stop the committee’s work on The Gap.
But Mr Lithgow said GORCC had continued its project despite “longstanding opposition”.
“The natural waterway keeps The Gap open to protect beach access and ocean views – that’s why we pay a premium price to be here,” he said.
“But they keep plugging it up and it keeps flooding – why can’t GORCC accept that it’s a natural waterway and preserve it.”
Mr Lithgow said he had collected evidence to use in court against the coast committee.
Great Ocean Road Coast Committee’s David Clarke denied his organisation was “closing The Gap”.
“The works will ensure access is maintained, rather than the current situation of stormwater occasionally washing out the access,” Mr Clarke said.
“The works entail raising the sand level by approximately one metre to prevent stormwater from washing out White’s Gap and adjusting the fencing to follow the new ground level.”