The Hon. Nick McBride, Member for MacKillop, The Naracoorte News

The recent storms that hit areas of the Limestone Coast have again laid bare the urgent threat of coastal erosion in the region.

With every storm, we lose more of our coastline—along with the infrastructure, tourism, and natural environment it supports.

In Robe, dune systems were torn apart, key foreshore areas damaged, and the integrity of houses and infrastructure put at risk.

This is the same at Southend – and in Kingston, where the already fragile shoreline continues to recede.

These are no longer one-off events. They reflect a growing crisis that short-term fixes like sand replenishment or rock walls can no longer solve.

While these measures may provide brief relief, they often shift the problem further along the coast or wash away with the next big storm.

We must move beyond reactive strategies and start investing in long-term, sustainable solutions.

I urge decision-makers at both the state and federal level to consider innovative and environmentally sensitive erosion mitigation strategies. One promising solution—used successfully in other parts of Australia and internationally—is the installation of offshore structures such as artificial reefs.

Artificial reefs can dissipate wave energy before it reaches the shore, reducing erosion while at the same time supporting marine biodiversity and local fisheries.

Unlike hard seawalls, reefs work with the environment rather than against it. They provide a more sustainable and effective buffer against storm impacts and can be tailored to the unique conditions of our South East coastline.

Let’s protect our beautiful coastline with a smarter, science-backed strategy that will stand the test of time.

Our communities cannot afford to wait.

This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 20 August 2025.