'Caving away by the day': Great Ocean Road under erosion threat
Authorities have been accused of inaction as a car park in one of Victoria's premier tourist towns erodes "by the day," potentially threatening one of the state's major touring routes.
Apollo Bay locals have watched for months as the Tuxion Road car park falls into the sand, bringing the sea ever closer to the Great Ocean Road.
Pounding waves during the weekend's storm exacerbated the damage.
Parts of the beachside walking track are gone. There's now only five metres of land before the shoreline reaches the road.
Locals have been watching the section, about two kilometres in length, for a couple of months.
Apollo Bay Bakery co-owner Sally Cannon says the erosion is now progressing at an "alarming" rate.
"The car park is just caving away by the day," she told The Age. "Yesterday there were bollards. Today they're not there."
The area is within the Colac Otway Shire but is managed by the Otway Coast Committee. VicRoads manages the Great Ocean Road.
Ms Cannon accused authorities of "buck-passing" over the issue.
"No one is taking responsibility and actually trying to fix the problem," she said.
Ms Cannon has lived in Apollo Bay for 25 years. She said locals had unsuccessfully requested various retaining walls to control the damage.
It's not the first time erosion has become problematic in the area.
A couple of years ago, a toilet block had to be demolished before it was washed out to sea.
This time, locals say, the area under threat houses Barwon Water infrastructure.
"It's potentially catastrophic," Ms Cannon said.
VicRoads said it was currently rebuilding sections and installing rock armour near Skenes Creek, which would help protect the embankment from coastal erosion.
That area, however, does not include the Tuxion Road car park.
Comment has been sought from the Otway Coast Committee and Barwon Water.