EROSION continues to undermine parts of Port Fairy’s East Beach, according to studies by a local environmental group.
Port Fairy Coastal Group chairman Nick Abbott said the alarming rate of erosion revealed by the group’s monthly beach profile measurements had helped alert the Department of Primary Industries and Environment (DEPI) and Moyne Shire Council to the scale of the problem and provide a basis for remedial actions.
The community group has been measuring the profile of East Beach from 12 locations since January 2013.
In its annual report released late last month, Mr Abbott said Moyne Shire Council had implemented a number of remedial measures to try to combat further erosion at specific sites.
The measures included a wire and picket fence at Pea Soup beach, which was washed out during a winter storm, and a wire and picket fence between posts 5 and 6 on East Beach, which appeared to be containing the sand dune.
A wave energy dissipation wall made of rocks built between posts 8 and 9 on East Beach had a marked effect in preventing further erosion, Mr Abbott said.
However, further research needed to be done on how to prevent “the wash-out effect” on the rock wall, he said.
On other developments during the year, Mr Abbott said the group had been asked to lead all communication and engagement activities on behalf of the Moyne Shire, DEPI and the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority for the Coastal Hazard Community Poster Project.
The poster project aims to alert the community about threats to the coast and give people the opportunity have a say about what should be done in response.
Mr Abbott said the group was in planning discussions with the project’s design consultants.
Regional Development Victoria has allocated $17,000 to the project that is expected to be carried out during summer. During the year the group was a top-five finalist out of a field of 274 applicants for the Victorian Coastal Council’s Community Action and Partnership Award for Excellence.
Mr Abbott said the group would discuss over the next few months what future directions it should take.
The review might consider a 3-5 year plan in association with Moyne Shire and reconsider some of the group’s present activities, he said.
Another possible objective was to affiliate with other bodies battling beach erosion around Australia to pool information and knowledge about coastal forces, he said.
