Constituency questions
Eastern Victoria Region
Tom McINTOSH (Eastern Victoria) (14:08): (743) My question is for the Minister for Planning in the other place. Eastern Victoria’s identity is strongly linked to the natural environment, especially along its coastal areas. These coasts are home to beautiful beaches and stunning national parks and are amazing places to live, work and explore. Last Friday I attended the Mornington Peninsula shire’s coastal round table at Safety Beach. This event, organised by Cr Sarah Race, was a fantastic opportunity to hear how governments and industry are preparing for future challenges to our coastal environment. Mayors and councillors from right along Victoria’s coastal councils were there, including our Eastern Victoria shire councils of South Gippsland, Wellington, East Gippsland and of course Mornington Peninsula. I want to thank Cr Sarah Race and the Mornington Peninsula shire for organising the event to discuss the important issue. Sea level rise will impact insurance costs, the frequency of and damage from severe weather, land values and where new homes should be built, and we need to be prepared to mitigate and adapt to these effects. Minister, how is the Victorian government ensuring that our coastal communities remain resilient well into the future?