Push for new bay foreshore

Andrew Mathieson
A TOWN planner wants to extend Western Beach’s foreshore to cover the area’s slimy and polluted intertidal zone.
Raewyn Hansen’s vision includes a rock wall and passive recreation space between an existing pedestrian path to just below the low-tide mark.
Ms Hansen said green slime in the intertidal zone was choking out natural sea grasses and leaving an unpleasant stench.
The slime and other rubbish which accumulated along the intertidal zone was drifting south toward Griffins Gully since construction of a Rippleside jetty, she said.
Other residents have backed Ms Hansen’s plan.
“It would become the most valuable piece of land,” Ms Hansen said.
“Not only would it look attractive but plants could be provided there for the community, too.”
Mrs Hansen hoped Geelong’s council and Department of Sustainability and Environment would consider developing the beachfront to encourage boats to moor along her proposed rock wall.
Ms Hansen said she was disappointed at council’s response after she first suggested the rock wall two years ago during a meeting to establish a Western Beach steering committee masterplan.
“I think ideas like this should be put out there for the community because no-one will come up with them until someone is prepared to say something,” she said.
Mrs Hansen, who works as a private planning consultant, said she had no commercial interest in her proposal.
Aaron Lee Waterfront Apart-ments owner Rhonda Longo backed Ms Hansen’s plan.
Ms Longo said it would build on previous work to beautify the waterfront.
“We all know the waterfront is the major drawcard but it’s time it was cleaned up and beautified from Western Beach to Ripple-side to benefit the community, and visitors to our town.”