Bayfront bombsites: Calls for action over Geelong’s foreshore shame

SPECIAL REPORT By Noel Murphy
IT’S meant to be the jewel in Geelong’s crown but much of Corio Bay’s foreshore is instead a tarnished mess of rubbish, vandalism, shooting galleries, dangerous sites, toxic and unremediated land and dumping grounds.
Its bombsite condition either side of the CBD waterfront and Eastern Beach, has been slammed by politicians, coastal authorities and environmentalists.
Rod Mackenzie, a former state conservation minister, said the foreshore suffered a history of neglect and duck-shoving between three levels of government, environmental bodies and management committees.
Geelong MP Ian Trezise declared sections of the foreshore “a mess’’, saying planning authorities had deemed them “wasteland’’.
Geelong Environment Coun-cil’s Joan Lindros criticised planning for the whole of the bay and was uncertain how particular sections could ever be cleaned up properly.
Diane James, a former chair of Victorian Coastal Council, said fixing the “degraded sites’’ needed a revitalised approach.
The catalogue of bayside neglect is extensive.
At North Geelong, a shattered disused power station is riddled with broken glass and dangerous twisted metal, graffiti, needles and pornographic artwork. Security fencing surround the site has been torn down and metal grids around the building cut down.
Near Graincorp, dangerous asbestos sheeting has been dumped in large quantities but authorities have been slow to move on rehabilitation works.
At Rippleside’s former slipway, vandals and trespassers persistently target the abandoned site that developer Jim Ramsay wants to turn into a large condominium project.
Eroding cliff-faces and fears about gas lines have threatened the Western Beach shoreline. City Hall plans to upgrade the tired Western Beach linear park have remained stalled for several years.
At Eastern Park, extensive deposits of smashed lead and tar-riddled clay pigeons from a former gun club have degraded the bayside, while the historic lime kilns next door have been neglected and vandalised.
“The historic Osborne House area and the land adjacent to the derelict power station are examples crying out for protection and enhancement,’’ Mr Mackenzie said.
“There has never, to my understanding, been a body appointed or elected to take responsibility for the entire Corio Bay foreshore.”
Ms James said City of Greater Geelong managed the foreshore but required a master plan and greater community involvement.
“In other areas – the Barwon coast and the Bellarine, the Great Ocean Road – there are strong coastal committees appointed by the minister and with strong community representation. Geelong’s foreshore lacks that strong community.’’
Mrs Lindros said Geelong wanted an icon and it should be Corio Bay.
“The problem is the planning authority for the whole bay,” she said.
Look at the gun club – I don’t know how that’ll ever get fixed up.’’
noel.murphy@geelongindependent.com.au