State puts on hold plan for dump of foreign sand

JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Controversial plans to import sand to renourish two local beaches are on hold, according to State Government.
The Government last year announced Eastern Beach, Clifton Springs and Portarlington beaches would receive sand dumps as part of a $6 million bay-wide project. But this week the Government revealed it would only renourish the beach at Portarlington.
A Government spokesperson said the Portarlington dump would start in July.
“Works at Eastern Beach and sections of Clifton Springs remain high on the list of potential future sites for beach renourishment,” the spokesperson said.
“The timing of beach renourishment projects is always subject to change depending on priorities. Eastern Beach and Clifton Springs remain potential sites for future works.”
City of Greater Geelong waterfront manager Steve Bentley said council officers had had informal discussions with DSE about maintenance and enhancement of Eastern Beach.
“These discussions included the dredging of Eastern Beach, which council plans to undertake later this year. There was no formal agreement regarding beach renourishment works.”
Objectors feared the $80,000 project to relocate thousands of tonnes of sand from Gippsland to the three sites was an environmental risk that would be a waste of money after the beaches washed away again.
Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros told the Independent last year that the project was a “quick fix”.