Black Rock beach: DELWP cans plan to build rock wall over Third Street beach
A plan to build a massive wall almost half a kilometre long over a stretch of Black Rock beach has been scrapped by the State Government.
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A plan to build a wall over a large stretch of Black Rock beach has been scrapped by the State Government.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has bailed on its plans to install a 440m-long, 7m-wide ‘revetment structure’ at Black Rock’s Third St beach.
The project was slammed by the community after it was revealed the rock wall would, in effect, wipe out the beach. The beach is a popular summer destination for thousands of families.
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In an email to stakeholders, the department said it had, through its coastal programs priority setting process, pulled funding for the project.
It said the project planning and community engagement would recommence once funding was secured.
This was despite the department telling the Leader last September abandoning the revetment would put “many millions of dollars’ worth of private assets” at risk. It also said several engineering approaches, including beach renourishment or construction of an artificial reef, were determined “not to be viable solutions”.
A joint statement from key stakeholders, the Sandringham Foreshore Association and Marine Care Ricketts Point Inc, said it would continue to work with the department to find a solution.
“We believe, however, that there are gentler, holistic effective solutions that are kinder to the environment and more aesthetically pleasing,” the statement read.
“While the decision gives us breathing space, we are very keen to continue to engage with DELWP and other experts to create better solutions than the proposed revetment in front of the seawall.”
Sandringham state Liberal MP Brad Rowswell said the decision was a win for the Black Rock community.
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