The way beachgoers access Port Fairy’s iconic East Beach is set to change, and residents are being urged to have their say while they can.
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Access points along the popular beach will be affected by a $420,000 sea wall extension that will combat the effects of erosion and storm surges.
Out of six access points between the Port Fairy Life Saving Club and Hanley Court – a space of less than 600 metres – Moyne Shire is proposing rebuilding two, removing two and leaving two untouched.
It will cost $80,000 to rebuild each access point.
The shire is seeking state government funding to carry out the project, which will begin in the second half of 2018.
Moyne Shire mayor Mick Wolfe encouraged people to share their views.
“Where there’s an access point that obviously creates a weakness for any storm surge or anything like that,” he said.
“The question is, ‘do we really need them all?’ and if we can reduce them that allows us to form a solid rock wall and still get reasonable access.
“At worst you might have to walk 50 to 100 metres, which will allow us to do better work on the prevention.”
Mr Wolfe said the seawall was in place to protect the dunes.
“It might not be obvious but there has been damage caused to existing rocks there,” he said. “Frequent surges have eroded in and behidn the rocks.”
Complete a survey form at moyne.vic.gov.au/eastbeach before February 4 to have your say.