Henry and Veronica Luiz, a couple who fell in love with the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria's east, had their dream of building a retirement home dashed due to rising sea levels.
The Luizs purchased a block of land in Loch Sport in 2016. However, after five years of planning and approvals, their dream was shattered when they were informed that the state Floodplain Strategy 2021 prohibited construction on their site due to rising sea levels.
The couple, who had planned to use their superannuation for the construction, found themselves in a difficult situation. They had obtained the necessary planning approvals from the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) in 2018, with the authority stating that they would not object to the plans as long as the house met flood standards.
However, new regulations requiring all new builds along the Victorian coastline to account for a sea level rise of at least 0.8m in addition to the existing 1.9m AHD levels made their plans impossible. The WGCMA retracted its previous approval in November 2024, leaving the Luizs $100,000 out-of-pocket.
The new flood provisions have also affected numerous properties in the area, making them virtually unsellable. Real estate agent Rachelle Potts estimates that around 30 properties on her books are impacted by the new regulations.
The Wellington Shire Council, which includes towns like Golden Beach, Loch Sport, Paradise Beach, and McLoughlins Beach, is also facing challenges due to the new strategy. Mayor Scott Rossetti expressed the council's difficulty in implementing the requirements without clear guidance from the CMA or the state government.
The state government, however, maintains that the new strategy is necessary to protect Victorians from sea level rises and ensure that new homes are not built in areas that put people at risk. The West Gippsland Floodplain Strategy is still under development and will undergo a formal consultation process with the community.
5 Comments
Habibi
“I stand with the authorities on this – it’s hard news for some, but forward-planning is essential in a world facing climate challenges.”
Karamba
“If we want to live in secure, resilient communities, we need to adapt our building codes to reflect the changing environment.”
Rotfront
“The new rules may be inconvenient, but ensuring our coastal areas remain safe from rising seas should be our priority.”
Matzomaster
“The government is making tough calls to protect the community. This proactive approach can prevent catastrophic losses later.”
Marishka
“It’s outrageous that a couple’s dream retirement home is ruined by last-minute government rule changes. How can they just pull the rug out like that?”