Beach boxes no longer suitable for eroding coastline in Mt Eliza

AN environmentalist has blamed channel deepening for severe erosion at peninsula beaches.

Destroyed beach boxes

AN ENVIRONMENTALIST says some peninsula beaches are so eroded they can no longer sustain beach boxes.

Mt Eliza ecologist and Coastcare co-ordinator Jeff Yukovic called for the removal of all beach boxes after some at Moondah Beach were destroyed during recent wild weather.

"It is my belief Moondah Beach is no longer suitable for leasing space for the purpose of maintaining a bathing box," he said.

Mr Yukovic blamed the 2008-09 Port Phillip channel deepening for erosion at a number of peninsula beaches. Portsea Front Beach has already been decimated.

A State Government-commissioned report by environmental firm Water Technology found the project had led to stronger and bigger waves at Portsea.

Another CSIRO report found a change in local wave conditions was "the likely cause of the erosion at Portsea".

"While global warming has created a small rise in sea level, the probable major cause is the increased sea level within the bay as a result of channel deepening," Mr Yukovic said.

Mt Eliza resident Gary Miller owns one of the destroyed boxes at Moondah.

"I'll need to do a complete rebuild of the shed," he said. "In the scheme of things, it's just mildly inconvenient. At least nobody was hurt."

Mornington Peninsula Shire property and valuations manager Yasmin Woods said beach access points are closed and that the council will work with beach box owners and the Department of Environment and Primary Industries.

A DEPI spokeswoman said beaches were regularly monitored to maintain the condition of seawalls.

"Beaches planned to be renourished this year as part of the program include Blairgowrie, Clifton Springs and Frankston," she said.

Mt Martha's Case Varkevisser, owner of Sea Side Shacks which builds and maintains boatsheds, said a complete rebuild of a boatshed could take up to six months.

"The boat shed owners have to obtain planning permission from council and Department of Environment and Primary Industries to rebuild. They also need to get a building permit. And this takes time."

Mr Varkevisser said, depending on the design, an average beach box can cost up to $30,000.