Libs vow to halt Black Rock revetment work if they win next month’s state election
The state government wants to build a rock structure more than twice the size of the MCG which is tipped to wipe out a large stretch of Black Rock beach but the Libs have other ideas.
Inner South
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A DOOMED stretch of Black Rock beach could earn a last minute stay of execution with the Liberals vowing to halt State Government foreshore protection works.
The Leader last month revealed the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning would build a 440m x 7m “rock revetment” to protect the seawall and promenade from storm damage.
The structure would be more than twice the size of the MCG and would effectively wipe out Black Rock’s Third Street beach — a popular summer spot for thousands of beachgoers and recreational fishermen.
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However, the Liberal Party has vowed to stop the project dead in its tracks if it wins next month’s state election.
Sandringham Foreshore Association president Vicki Karalis said she remained hopeful the beach could be saved.
“We welcome DELWP’s plan to protect the rock wall but their idea is overkill as a large chunk of beach will be unnecessarily lost forever,” she said.
Liberal candidate for Sandringham Brad Rowswell said a lack of community consultation meant his party had to intervene.
“A preferred option will be to reinforce those damaged parts with a smaller and aesthetically accepted revetment wall,” he said.
Dr Karalis said an option to build smaller revetments to protect the most vulnerable areas “needed to be explored”.
“This ... would be sensitive to the natural environment and a better outcome for the foreshore and the community,” she said.
The department believes the revetment will put the Black Rock promenade at risk as well as “many millions of dollars’ worth of private assets” if abandoned.
It also deemed several approaches, including building an artificial reef, “not to be viable solutions”.
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