Two points of access to Port Fairy’s East Beach will be removed as works are set to begin on an extensive sea wall.
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There are currently six access tracks along the 600-metre stretch between the Port Fairy Surf Lifesaving Club and Hanley Court.
Moyne Shire councillors voted at its monthly meeting to remove two access points, remove two and upgrade two.
The changes come despite more than 180 people signing a petition protesting against plans to remove one of the walkways near the public toilets.
The $420,000 sea wall extension is part of the Defend Port Fairy campaign, which is fighting against the impacts of erosion and storm surges along East Beach.
Construction of the new section of the sea wall will require four beach access points to be dismantled.
Rebuilding these access points will cost $80,000 each.
The two access points closest to the Surf Life Saving Club will remain untouched.
The two points that will be removed had been identified due to their proximity to other access points and anecdotal evidence that they are the least used.
Cr Jordan Lockett said access to the beach was a right everyone should have.
“Council must ensure everyone can get to the beach,” he said.
“While we may have less access points, they will give all members of the community better access down to the beach. These new ones are safer, better access points.
“I can see why some people don’t want change, but this is change for the better.”
Access point three will be one of the walkways removed. It was subject to the petition against its removal.
It has a ramp leading from the beach to the toilet block. A larger ramp to the south is located 25 metres from this access point on top of the dune and also provides access to the toilet blocks.
From the beach, the two access points are 75 metres apart.
The second access point to be removed is a ramp on Beach Street.
It descends onto the beach from a high point on the dunes.
The steps primarily service residents and visitors along this section of Beach Street. The Bourne Avenue ramp (which is to be replaced), is located 70 metres south of this ramp.
The extension of the sea wall is expected to begin in the second half of 2018.