No Way One Way — Inverloch Residents Opposing the Permanent One-Way Conversion of Surf Parade

What's Being Proposed?

Bass Coast Shire Council proposes to permanently convert Surf Parade to one-way traffic between Ozone Street and Goroke Street as part of a shared pathway project to the Surf Lifesaving Club.

We support the shared pathway — it's a great community asset with State Government grant funding. But the permanent one-way conversion is a separate decision, and it's the wrong one.

Surf Parade experiences significant congestion for roughly 8 weeks during summer. For the remaining 44 weeks of the year, it works fine as a two-way road. A permanent one-way conversion is a disproportionate response to a seasonal problem.

Why We Oppose It

The permanent one-way will create serious problems for surrounding streets and the community.

Traffic Pushed Onto Unsafe Streets

Vehicles will be forced to divert via Goroke Street onto Lohr Avenue and Ripple Drive — narrow residential streets with no footpaths, no curbs, and where pedestrians including children and elderly residents walk on the road.

Permanent Fix for a Seasonal Problem

Congestion on Surf Parade occurs for around 8 weeks in summer. For the other 44 weeks, it functions well as a two-way road. Why impose year-round restrictions for a short-term issue?

Mitigations Won't Work

A "no right turn" sign or traffic island at Goroke Street won't stop drivers. Experience across Australia shows regulatory signage is routinely ignored, and GPS navigation will quickly route traffic through residential streets.

Better Alternatives Exist

These aren't theoretical — they are proven solutions successfully used in other Australian coastal communities facing identical challenges.

The Noosa Model

Seasonal Park-and-Ride Shuttle

Noosa's free "Go Noosa" shuttle recorded 300,000+ trips over summer, directly reducing foreshore traffic. A shuttle from the Inverloch Recreation Reserve during the 8-week peak would achieve the same result — no road changes needed.

The Phillip Island Model

Seasonal Temporary One-Way

Bass Coast Shire already runs the "blue line" temporary traffic system on Phillip Island for MotoGP. If Council can manage that, it can manage a seasonal arrangement on Surf Parade during summer only.

Standard Australian Practice

Signal-Controlled Alternating Traffic

Traffic signals at each end of the 570m section, alternating direction. Used on hundreds of narrow bridges and road sections across Australia. Two-way access preserved — no traffic diverted to residential streets.

The Mornington Peninsula Model

Traffic Calming & Speed Reduction

Reduce speed to 30–40 km/h and install traffic calming. The pathway construction already narrows the road — work with it. Slower traffic is safer traffic, without diverting vehicles onto Lohr Ave and Ripple Drive.

What You Can Do

Every submission counts. Council must consider every response it receives.

Submit your own objection to Council Post or deliver to: CEO, Bass Coast Shire Council, PO Box 118, Wonthaggi VIC 3995. Deadline: 5:00pm, 1 April 2026.
Sign the community petition Contact us to add your name, or look out for the petition in your neighbourhood.
Download the information pack Includes a template letter, petition details, and the full Australian precedents document showing how other towns solved this.
Share with your neighbours Spread the word on Inverloch community groups, letterbox drops, or simply talk to your neighbours. Volume of submissions matters.