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Loch Sport Flood Overlay Group
Challenging the Revised Flood Overlay Guidelines on the Gippsland East Coast
The Victorian Government, with the support of the WGCMA, has changed the development conditions for Loch Sport and the East Coast. We are asking for fairness, evidence and a seat at the table.
New petition – closing 29 Oct 26
Overturn the revised flood overlay ruling
Scan the QR code or use the button to sign the petition to overturn the revised flood overlay ruling made by the Vic Government with the support of the WGCMA.
Sign the petitionSeptember 26
Track 10 Final Report
Track Ten has three sets of culverts that help water flow between the roadsides and keep the lake's water levels balanced at this location. The road's surface is about 0.8 meters above the Australian Height Datum (AHD). During major floods, like the 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) flood at 1.9 meters AHD, Track Ten gets easily overtopped, allowing water to flow westward.Future predictions for the year 2100 indicate even higher flood levels, reaching 2.7 meters AHD.
Reviews with WGCMA confirm that Track Ten does not affect Loch Sport's flood levels.Wellington Shire Council engaged an independent hydrologist to assess the impacts of Track Ten and flooding in Loch Sport. In summary the report found that "during significant events, including design floods, Track Ten is fully inundated so does not materially influence peak flood levels."A full copy of the report can be accessed here.
10,000
letters sent to Gippsland residents
1.9m → 2.7m
proposed rise in the flood level (AHD), an increase of 800mm
575 - ~2,000
Loch Sport properties affected, from 20% to about 70% of the town
2004
the flood study the revised Loch Sport overlay is based on
The evidence
The revised Loch Sport flood overlay rests on a 2004 study
Loch Sport is subject to riverine flooding when inflow to the lake system from major rivers (Latrobe, Thomson, Macalister, Avon) increases lake levels. Flooding occurs on both the Lake Victoria and Lake Reeve sides of Loch Sport as the lakes are connected.
Due to the permanent connection of the Gippsland Lakes to the ocean at Lakes Entrance, the lake level is influenced by changes to sea level. The predicted increase in sea level of 0.8m by 2100 will also impact the lake levels, and the 1% AEP (previously known as the 1:100-year) flood levels under future conditions have been estimated accordingly.
Relevant flood study: flood mapping for Loch Sport is derived from the Gippsland Lakes Flood Level Modelling Project (Centre for Environmental Applied Hydrology, University of Melbourne 2004). The modelling utilised available meteorological and river flow records. Read the 2004 report (PDF).
Loch Sport flood overlay at 1.9m AHD
Loch Sport flood overlay at 2.7m AHD
Points of contention
Points of contention regarding the WGCMA's flood level revisions
Sale of property was permitted
The sale of property was permitted during this period. The Vic. Gov. and the WGCMA have failed in their duty of care. Registered as an Ombudsman-led complaint and Own Motion Enquiry. Update expected in 2026.
No basis for acceleration
The WGCMA has no scientific evidence for advancing the sea level rise projection for 2100 (2.7m) to the year 2024. This action lacks clear hydrological or climate science support within the supplied documentation.
Contravening government provisions
The revision appears to contravene specific provisions outlined in the Victorian Government's Coastal Inundation Sea Level Rise Storm Tide 2100 guidelines.
Impact
What the revised overlay means for the community
The Victorian Government, with the support of the WGCMA, has changed the development conditions to the unchanged 2004 flood overlay report on the 2100 100-year flood overlay guidelines.
Notifications were sent to impacted Loch Sport residents stating that the WGCMA will not approve new development, business and residential, on vacant land on the East Coast including Loch Sport. Until several years ago the WSC and the WGCMA could assess applications against the 2040 Australian Height Datum (AHD) climate change scenario of 1.9m.
In October 2021 this option was removed from the planning scheme by the state government and, from February 2024, the WSC can only assess applications against the 2100 AHD 2.9m levels. Advice regarding this alteration was not formally communicated to the community until November 2024.
Property and Finance
- Increase in insurance premiums, or no insurance, extending to all homes in the revised overlay: approx. 1,360 homes and properties
- Evidence of a decline in property sales
- Owners remain obligated to pay council rates and land tax, where applicable VRLT in 2026
- Banks could recall home loans as property values fall
- Banks may not fund new homes on a defined flood overlay, even though WSC supports approval of single-family dwellings
- Developers face significant outlays for the approval process of a single dwelling, with a risk of rejection by the WGCMA
Community and Economy
- Preclusion of new business development will lead to socioeconomic deterioration of Loch Sport and East Coast communities, potentially culminating in their desertion
- Impact on retirees' plans, adding burden on the WSC
- An ageing population and diminished interest among younger demographics
- Reduced tourism due to the 7.5% Short Stay Levy effective 2025
- The decision does not support the current housing shortage
- Reduced government funding for essential services
- No resolution for land procured for business development or future subdivision
LSFOG position statement
A fair, proportionate and evidence-based approach
The Loch Sport Flood Overlay Group released its Position Statement on the flood overlays affecting the town. The Statement concludes that Loch Sport is a sustainable coastal settlement with established infrastructure, significant community investment and strong social value. It recommends key outcomes that balance responsible planning with fairness, proportionality and community involvement.
The Group supports responsible flood planning, but believes solutions should balance safety, fairness and community sustainability. It believes the current imposition of the 2.7m flood overlay is disproportionate, poorly communicated and damaging to the community.
The Group seeks:
- Active community involvement in decision-making
- Withdrawal of the current prohibition letters
- Clear and consistent communication with all property owners
- Investigation into Track 10 and its impact on flood water retention in Lake Reeve
- Reclassification of Loch Sport to a Land Subject to Inundation Overlay (LSIO), not a Flood Overlay (FO)
- A separate Sea Level Rise Overlay to address projected long-term changes
- Regular review of predictions against actual observations
Immediate actions
- Ensure active community involvement in all planning processes affecting Loch Sport
- Withdraw letters issued to landowners advising of development prohibitions
- Provide clear, consistent information to all landowners about current approval processes for residential land
- Grant a temporary exemption for the 0.8m sea level rise component until a Planning Scheme Amendment is finalised
- Undertake a hydrology investigation into Track 10 and its impact on Loch Sport
- Review the impact of overlays on land valuations with the Valuer-General
Medium-term actions
- Planning Amendment consultation to include communication that is easily understood and unambiguous
- Reclassify Loch Sport under LSIO rather than FO, consistent with its actual flood risk
- Establish a separate Sea Level Rise Overlay for long-term projections
- Implement a drainage and soak-pit maintenance program to improve resilience
Long-term actions
- Introduce review cycles (every 20–25 years) to test predictive models against real-world observations
- Clarify governance responsibilities between WSC and WGCMA
- Provide fair compensation mechanisms where development rights are permanently removed
Have your say
Should you wish to express your thoughts on how the WGCMA's decision will impact you personally or Loch Sport, send your communication to info@gippslandfloodoverlay.com.au, or read what your neighbours have already said.