A Warrnambool City Council candidate has offered to personally lead a community effort to replant vegetation along the foreshore to restore views from McGennan car park.
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Bruce Campbell, who is also chair of the Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare group, said sea views could be restored.
He said the invasive, non-Indigenous tea tree that now dominated the area could be cleared and low growing local native plants put there instead to prevent erosion.
"It will be a win-win for views and biodiversity," Mr Campbell said.
"I have been involved in coastal revegetation projects for years. At McGennan there is the need to proceed very carefully and strategically to prevent erosion.
"A mosaic approach over two-to-four years for clearing the existing vegetation and planting will manage this potential problem."
Mr Campbell said the council needed to quickly finish the native vegetation and foreshore precinct plans that were holding it up.
He said the Department of Environment would require a strategic plan and permits for removing native vegetation.
"All this is doable sooner rather than later," Mr Campbell said.
There is talk that consultation on McGennan views will be thrown in the mix with other consultations about the harbour.
"This would probably be a mistake," said Mr Campbell,
"Harbour consultations have dragged on for years. I don't want to see McGennan caught up in that.
"Let's just get on with what the community clearly wants here. Bring back the views and improve the quality of vegetation for wildlife.
"If the council is short of money, I will personally lead a community effort to plant out the site."
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