A minister who sacked the body managing the northern Bellarine Peninsula’s foreshore has praised its replacement for “listening to the community”.
Bellarine Bayside Committee of Management was now making a “greater investment” in improving foreshore amenities, Environment Minister Lisa Neville said.
She praised the committee after opening a new St Leonards Creek pedestrian bridge, describing it as a “missing link” in the area’s coastal trail.
Ms Neville, also the Member for Bellarine, sacked the committee in February, citing concerns about a “lack of engagement” and the “management of the foreshore”.
Late last month, committee chair Diane James announced that a new chief executive officer, John Nankervis, would take over from interim CEO Nick Wynn in January.
Ms Neville raised the new bridge as an example of the foreshore committee’s work for “local communities and campers alike”.
The St Leonards community had raised the need for the bridge during a workshop on locations for beach renourishment, she said.
“This is a great example of the work done in partnership between the Victorian Government and the Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management, (which has) restored and enhanced the northern Bellarine environment for the benefit and enjoyment of local communities, holidaymakers and visitors.
“Bellarine Bayside Committee of Management (is) listening to the community and (is) making a greater investment into the improvement of on-ground foreshore amenities and coastal experiences for the enjoyment of local communities and campers alike.”
Ms Neville said pedestrians and cyclists had to use the roadside to cross the creek before the bridge, “creating a potential public safety hazard”.
The bridge also spanned two seasonal camping areas to provide users with “an increased level of service and amenity value,” she said.
Ms James said the bridge was part of a foreshore master plan that the committee was “continuing to deliver in consultation with the local community”.
