Storm shows harbour ‘unsafe’: boat owner. Call for breakwater

Alex de Vos
A WEEKEND storm that caused “significant” damage to boats moored at Portarlington harbour has led to calls to fast track a project to make the port safe.
Local boat owner Michael Byers said steel chains at the back of his boat snapped under pressure of the waves, allowing it to smash into another boat.
The Bureau of Meteorology reported gale force wind on Port Phillip Bay on the weekend gusting up to 87 kilometres an hour.
“It’s caused some significant damage,” he said.
“The quickest and easiest way to stop this from happening would be to install a wall to create a wave break during bad weather,” Mr Byers said.
During adverse weather and under the conditions of the harbour Mr Byers said it was getting to the stage where people couldn’t physically get onto their boats.
“Something needs to be done now because it’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt,” he said.
Mr Byers said if Parks Victoria wanted to encourage boating enthusiasts to use the harbour it needed to consider weather conditions.
He said the harbour had been “a huge issue” for a long time and someone needed to be held accountable for the damage.
“Parks Victoria is neglecting its duty of care by allowing this to happen and needs to do what it has to, to make that harbour safe,” Mr Byers said.
The Bellarine Peninsula’s chief ranger Steve Macphee agreed there was a need for a breakwater but said it would be a long time before one was installed.
“We’re a long way off having a safe harbour but it is being addressed in the Portarlington Safe Harbour study.
“All boat owners know the risks of having their boat on the inner finger and know they are susceptible to the weather,” Mr Macphee said.
Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville also backed the call for a breakwater and said it would be included in the Portarlington Safe Harbour Project.
“There will be a breakwater that will be installed as part of the project to provide a safe refuge for boats,” Ms Neville said.