$800K ‘dump’

MICHELLE HERBISON
A RENOURISHMENT project will spend $800,000 dumping new sand on two Bellarine Peninsula beaches, State Government has announced.
The Government said $500,000 would go toward a Portarlington renourishment and $300,000 to Clifton Springs as part of a $2.294 million project to restore four bayside beaches this year.
The announcement followed an Independent report last year that renourishment projects at Clifton Springs and Geelong’s Eastern Beach were on hold and Port-arlington’s would begin last July.
In October Environment Minister Ryan Smith halted a Port Phillip Bay renourishment project amid complaints its red quarry sand was incompatible with the beach.
A spokesperson said this week the Government was advertising sand tenders for Portarlington and Clifton Springs.
Each beach would receive about 15,000 tonnes of sand.
“The sand is normally sourced from a quarry through a strict tender process,” the spokesperson said.
“The successful contractor is required to ensure the sand is free of any contaminants and meets the grain size specification nominated in the tender.”
The Government expected the renourishments to last up to 15 years.
“This can vary depending on extreme weather,” the spokesperson said.
“Wind and waves constantly move sand on Port Phillip Bay beaches as part of the natural dynamic coastal environment.”
The spokesperson said Department of Sustainability and Environment was also considering developing a rock seawall at Clifton Springs.
Bellarine MP Lisa Neville welcomed the announcement despite the project taking “longer than the community’s wanted”.
“The funding seems to be able to deliver the beach renourishment program.”
Ms Neville urged the Government to “fast-track” St Leonards, listed for renourishment within four years.
“I hope it can happen within the next financial year.”
Geelong Environment Council’s Joan Lindros said the project should identify why the beaches were washing away.
“There must be some reason like a construction or changes to the flow in the water. It would be good if we could know what’s causing it and try and deal with the situation that way.”