Dell in access hopes

Andrew Mathieson
Car access could return to Clifton Springs’ Dell beach.
Geelong’s council has commissioned an engineer’s report into landslides that closed the road to the beach in 2002, with potential to resume vehicle access to the foreshore.
A separate geo-technical report nearly two years ago recommended a partial re-opening but a lack of stability around the cliff face forced council to reverse its decision.
City Hall instead built a steep walking trail, which residents criticised as “goat track” unfit for the elderly or families with young children.
The engineer’s report will investigate the feasibility and cost of providing vehicle access back to the Dell.
A foreshore sub-committee of Drysdale Clifton Springs Community Association approached a City engineer about reinvestigating car access after exhausting all other avenues.
Sub-committee secretary Jane McDonald believed an engineer’s report could finally “make” the road work.
“All we’ve ever wanted is to have someone else apart from the people who did the geological report to take a look,” she said.
The sub-committee hoped cars could either park at the foreshore or use a turning circle to drop off visitors and park at the top of the Dell.
Ms McDonald believed “anything” was possible, although cost could be a problem.
“We fought so hard to get it open over the summer that we’re probably happy to get any access rather than no access,” Mrs McDonald said.
“But I must say we were disappointed with the access we ended up getting.”
Ward councillor Tom O’Connor said he “absolutely” backed the community group’s claim to re-open access to the beach.
“It helps to put a bit more life back into the Dell,” he said.
“It makes it more accessible to more people.
“There is not that many people use in terms of the total population but that doesn’t say that more people shouldn’t or couldn’t use it.”
Cr O’Connor had expressed doubts about resumed car access to the Independent two months ago after City officers found cracks up to 10-metres deep had ripped open the road.
Heavy winter rain this year had increased the risk of landslides.