By Violet Li
As the recently endorsed Casey Coastal Framework has highlighted the concerning outlook for Tooradin, Star News spoke to Tooradin Ward candidates on the future of the town.
The framework reveals that over 84 per cent of the general residential zone and all commercial areas are at a high risk of temporary inundation by 2100. It suggests a general principle for planning to avoid new development or assets in coastal hazard areas.
Candidate Anthony Tassone said the Tooradin community felt let down by Casey Council who he said rushed through the adoption of the framework without having genuine consultation.
He questioned the data sources and modelling used within the framework.
“The current level of perceived high risk is not seen as credible by local residents,” he said.
“The report also has an unvalidated conceptual economic impact analysis that states that even with adaptation towards climate change impacts, all infrastructure assets in Tooradin will devalue from the current day to 2100. Publishing such unverified data is reckless and without regard to the residents of Tooradin.
“It could have unintended, potentially damaging financial and economic impacts for residents, home, land and business owners on their currently held assets or raise insurance premiums. All without genuine consultation or explanation of the logic applied in developing the report.”
Mr Tassone said the newly elected council needed to ensure proper community consultation before incorporating the framework into the Casey Planning Scheme.
“What we do not want to see is this report being used as a basis to not invest in the Tooradin township due to speculative and uncertain inundation risks that are forecast decades from now,” he said.
Mr Tassone said the locals wanted a range of pragmatic and modest investments to increase the appeal and connectivity of the town.
“They feel as though surrounding local government areas such as the Cardinia Shire Council have far better sporting and recreation facilities that are just a short drive down the South Gippsland Highway, but in Tooradin, they’ve felt forgotten,” he said.
The investments have included bike and walking tracks that loop around and connect the township from the foreshore, upgrades for recreational facilities, additional bus service routes, better use of vacant council-owned land zoned for public use near the foreshore and recreation reserve, better drainage, update of the main street streetscapes, and support for Tooradin Fisherman’s cottage.
Candidate Ali Yaghobi said with Tooradin being the most affected area in Casey by inundation and the rise of sea level, one step was to get a finer-grained study that specifically looked at Tooradin at the property level right now and into the future.
“Managing emerging coastal hazard risk requires longer-term strategic thinking and adaptive approaches,” he said.
“Understanding local values and risk profiles, including what is at risk like land values and assets, and how the risk profile is changing over time can inform our adaptation responses.”
Looking into the future, Mr Yaghobi said he would fight for the town despite challenges, and he was going to progress on building The Tooradin Eco Visitor Centre if elected.
Candidate Kuldeep Kaur said the most pressing concerns for the town revolved around the environment, particularly the protection of wetlands, waterways, and wildlife.
“Many residents worry about the impact of future developments on their coastal ecosystem, especially the threat to biodiversity and rising sea levels. There is a desire for sustainable practices and greater conservation efforts, especially for the Ramsar wetlands,” she said.
“While some residents are concerned about overdevelopment and the potential loss of Tooradin’s small-town charm, others advocate for well-planned, moderate development that enhances infrastructure.
“The economic aspect also comes up frequently, with residents highlighting the need for more local businesses and job opportunities. Many feel that Tooradin and nearby areas haven’t seen enough economic growth compared to other parts of the City of Casey.”
Ms Kaur said she would propose stronger environmental policies if elected and she also envisioned encouraging local businesses and tourism by promoting Tooradin as a destination for visitors who want to experience nature, wildlife, and peaceful coastal living.
She would also push for better road maintenance, improved transportation links, and the creation of community spaces.
Candidate Andrew Gai said regarding Tooradin being low-lying and at high risk of temporary inundation, he would ask for technical advice from the experts to determine the best course of action for the safety of the residents and the sustainability of the town.
Mr Gai said residents were concerned about the poorly designed drainage system, which left stagnant water sitting underneath the drainage pipe and created a perfect home for mosquitos.
“One of the key takeaways was that the residents don’t just want confidence restored in the council but also ‘common sense’ when it comes to decision-making on planning and service delivery,” he said.
He said he would find ways to fix the drainage system and find a safe chemical to spray in the areas with stagnant water to eradicate mosquitoes.
Mr Gai also said he would develop Tooradin into a tourist spot.
“Tooradin is the gateway to Phillip Island but it has its own tourism potential as a coastal town,” he said.
“The foreshore requires a massive revitalisation to create picnic spaces for families who just want to enjoy the foreshore experience if they don’t want to go to sandy beaches which are a fair distance away.
“I would like to see the Tooradin Marine Life Centre Project come to life to create more opportunities for people to visit Tooradin.”
