Erosion safety fears on Great Ocean Road

GREAT Ocean Road users have expressed alarm at erosion along edges of the famous road exposing the footings of safety guard rails, sections of which are held together with cable ties.

Apollo Bay resident Shane Maliki noticed the issue when leaving the water below the location, near Smythe Creek, after a surf and took a photo with his phone, later posting it to a local Facebook community group on July 9.

“Where the guard rail is, it’s only one foot away from the white line on the edge of the road,” he said.

The image appears to show erosion along the ocean-side edge had exposed the base of metal posts that hold up the guard rail, and heavy duty cable ties have been used to reinforce the lower section of the barrier.

Commenting on his post, a person purporting to be a bus driver said “(I) think about it every time I drive over it.”

 

 

Otway Forum secretary Peter Fillmore said the location was a known problem and a “catastrophe waiting to happen.”

“VicRoads has fixed this twice before. As heavy vehicles approach this tight corner, they must brake, so this only puts more pressure on the road… and we’ve had high rainfall that loosens the
soil profile.”

Mr Fillmore estimated road authorities had constructed close to 30 concrete retaining walls between Lorne and Apollo Bay to address known erosion spots such as near Smythe Creek, but there were others yet to be addressed.

“There’s another slip 20 metres away, they’ll probably have to build another wall about 30 metres long.

“Unless it’s really obvious, they (Vic Roads) don’t notice it, they rely on people to notify them… they need to monitor it a bit more, I think.

“If a large section of the road slips, it could be closed for months.”

Department of Transport regional director Michael Tudball said the Great Ocean Road near Smythe Creek was regularly inspected by work crews.

“The unique coastal conditions make the Great Ocean Road more susceptible to landsplips and erosion.”

The use of cable ties on barriers are to to hold motorcycle protection cushions in place to prevent sliding beneath the upper rail, a department spokesperson said, and the ties complied with guidelines
when installed.

Earlier this month, the state government announced $10 million for Great Ocean Road for land reforms, hazard assessments and erosion protection.

An additional $16.9 million has been earmarked to help deliver the state government’s Marine and Coastal Strategy, including $7.7 million to maintain and repair coastal assets at several Victorian sites including
Eastern View.

The funding was welcomed by Mr Fillmore, who, along with the Great Ocean Road Community Network, has spent years lobbying for greater attention to key coastal pressures.

“Climate change issues should be taken way more seriously and no new infrastructure approved in at risk zones…it’s time to also limit heavy loads and big buses from the Great Ocean Road,” he said, referring to the large tourist passenger vehicles that travel between Melbourne and destinations such as the 12 Apostles but rarely stop to spend money along the way.

“This issue should be addressed before they (tourists) all come back – (it would be) a win for the road and the tourism industry,” he said.