Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's a wonderful privilege to be able to get up and speak on this motion, because coastal erosion is one of the most important issues that we confront as a nation. Our waterways are critical for the future sustainability and health of our nation, as well as, of course, for the future health and sustainability of the planet. One of the things we often forget is that cities are based—as are all of Australia's capital cities, of course—on major waterways for very good and logical reasons: because of the basis of their settlement, but also because of their connections to direct water supply.

At the last election I went to the people of Goldstein and made it crystal clear that the health and wellbeing particularly of our main body of water, Port Phillip in the great state of Victoria, was something that I was going to fight for as part of improving the lifestyle, the sustainability and the health of our community. Too often the health of Port Phillip has fallen by the wayside through a tussle between local authorities, the state government and the federal government because of issues of ownership and responsibility and because of a lack of legal clarity. Critically, the only people who have suffered are the people who live by it, and the only body of water that suffers because of it is Port Phillip itself.

Port Phillip is the jewel of Melbourne. It is central to our liveability; it is the greatest natural asset in our community; and it is critical. Goldstein faces many challenges directly around coastal erosion. In fact, Goldstein has almost all of the cliffs along Port Phillip from Melbourne on the easterly side—rising up around Brighton and going across Hampton, Sandringham and Black Rock, and then descending towards the end of Beaumaris and then to Mentone and Mentone Beach—until you get down to the federal electorate of Dunkley

So coastal erosion is critical, and it is a critical part of the platform that I was elected on only a few months ago. As part of the last federal election we made commitments to provide up to $50,000 for the Black Rock Foreshore Masterplan. This involves three distinct proposals and projects, including removing coastal weed species and revegetating these areas with native plant species. It involves installing new fencing at existing informal lookout points—of course coastal erosion comes not just from the water, but also from the top, particularly as a consequence of run-off from Beach Road, as well as from the behaviour of well-meaning citizens enjoying the view but who need to be mindful of the impact and footprint they have on the local environment. It also involves developing ways to protect new plantings and to provide additional stability to the cliffs through a process of revegetation. We funded the City of Bayside to take responsibility for delivering those roles, and we look forward to them delivering them through the processes to come.

We didn't provide just that $50,000 for the Black Rock Foreshore Masterplan. We also provided up to $50,000 for the Sandringham Beach and Gardens Masterplan, which involves increasing the amount of vegetation in consultation with local community groups—and there are many—who are concerned about the health of the foreshore. I would like to pay particular regard to the Sandringham Foreshore Association, among others, for their perseverance and diligence in taking care of our local community. They know that I'm a good friend of their cause—and also of course of the Black Rock Sandringham Conservation Association. We're also installing new fencing to reduce the impact caused by off-track walking and to improve safety during future weed control and revegetation efforts in difficult-to-access areas, as well as developing detailed revegetation plans which aim to establish long-term sustainable and manageable planting in critical areas around Sandringham.

We've been able to do this because of the excellent work of community organisations, volunteers and the council, and also through working together with the re-elected Morrison government, which has given these commitments. Sadly and tragically, there were no such promises about the care, health and wellbeing of Port Phillip from the Labor Party at the last election. They made no commitment to the Sandringham community, they made no commitment to the Black Rock community and they made no commitments to Beaumaris, or Brighton, or Hampton or anywhere else. Ultimately, this is why they will always struggle to represent our community in Goldstein—they neither understand it nor fully appreciate the consequences. That's why it's so critically important that we're a strong voice.

Of course, this sits across the backdrop of many measures that this government is taking around the health and wellbeing of our water systems around the world. I know that when the Prime Minister was recently at the United Nations he extolled our specific virtues and focus in making sure we have healthy waterways for the future wellbeing of the planet.

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