General News
12 December, 2025
Safety concerns along the foreshore
OVERGROWN vegetation on the Warrnambool foreshore is posing a safety risk to those who walk in the area according to Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell.
Ms Britnell and deputy mayor Cr Matt Walsh this week met with a group of residents who were eager to express their concerns over the state of the vegetation – and the risk it poses in its current state.
“The coastal wattle and tea tree here is all overgrown and is posing a very real safety risk, particularly to those who walk along the footpath and feel vulnerable,” Ms Britnell said.
“It has gotten to the stage where, in some places, the pathways are narrowed because of the overgrowth and people can feel trapped in with nowhere to go if approached by a stranger and are feeling threatened.
“This vegetation needs urgent attention; while it is native, it is not Indigenous to the area. Some of this was planted almost 40 years ago.”
Warrnambool City deputy mayor Cr Matt Walsh agreed that the overgrown vegetation needed attention.
“This has been an ongoing concern for a number of years now; the overgrowth has become high, thick and constrictive in several areas and it needs to go.
“We need assistance from the state government because we as a council are very restricted in terms of what we can do with coastal vegetation, which comes under the Marine and Coastal Act, and DEECA (Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action).
“While council is the land manager, it is on crown land so while there is certainly a lot of red tape to get through we will be working hard to get this matter addressed.”
Ms Britnell said the heavy foliage directly in front of the life saving club also posed a safety issue for beach goers.
“The heavy foliage directly in front of the surf life saving club is now reducing visibility for lifeguards and that just adds another element of danger,” she said.
Residents at the foreshore last Wednesday morning said their concerns were growing, along with the foliage.
“I enjoy afternoon walks along here but now fear for my safety as well as that of other walkers,” Annie said.
“Just a few weeks back I was approached by a man in dark clothing who asked me for money – I said I didn’t have any on me and quickly walked away.
“The overgrowth in the area I was walking made it feel very enclosed; we were certainly well out of sight of anyone else. And this wasn’t an isolated incident.”
Alison spoke of a time (recently) when her neighbour, aged in her early 70s, was also approached by a stranger who demanded items.
“My neighbour felt threatened and was quite frightened; we should be able to walk along this beautiful coastline and feel safe. Something really needs to be done about all this overgrowth.”
And with the warmer weather now here, and the city’s population about to boom with the arrival of holidaymakers, concerns are heightening even further.
“We’ve waited long enough,” Ms Britnell said.
“The local police are aware of this issue and will do regular checks, however I know they are undermanned and can only do their best with the staff they have. The state government really needs to step up now and fix this – it’s an easy solution really; get rid of all this overgrowth and do it now.”
