Popular Black Rock beach to make way for ‘revetment structure’
A POPULAR Black Rock beach will be wiped out when a State Government’s plans to erect a wall are put in place, a marine expert has warned.
Inner South
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A POPULAR Black Rock beach will be wiped out when a State Government’s plans to erect a wall are put in place, a marine expert has warned.
The Department of Environment plans to install a 440m long, 7m wide ‘revetment structure’ at Black Rock’s Third Street beach to protect the seawall and promenade, including a handful of million-dollar properties, from the “occasional storm”.
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It will, in effect, wipe out Third Street beach.
The beach is a popular summer destination for thousands of families who prefer its relaxed environment to the hustle and bustle of nearby Black Rock beach and Ricketts Point.
The revetment, which will be more than twice the length of the MCG, will run between Black Rock beach carpark and the “quiet corner” end of the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
Marine science expert Hakan Dellal, who is also spokesman for the Sandringham Foreshore Association and the Marine Care Ricketts Point Inc, said the revetment would result in a “major loss of amenity”.
“Current and future generations will not have the opportunity to enjoy this beach because it will be gone once the revetment is built,” he said.
Mr Dellal said he wasn’t opposed to protecting the promenade but said there were “better ways”.
“It will offer better protection if it is built in sections along other parts of the coast line but honestly, the rock wall was built in the 1930s and is still standing despite the occasional storm,” he said.
Mr Dellal also feared the revetment would have a “negative impact” on the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary and “hamper the production of fish”.
DELWP coastal projects program officer Cassandra Philippou said it would push on with the revetment despite concerns.
“Detailed studies have been completed in relation to the rock revetment, and final designs will be prepared in the coming months,” she said.
“The final designs will determine the cost of the revetment, which DELWP plans to construct in 2019-20.”
The department said abandoning the revetment would put “many millions of dollars’ worth of private assets” at risk.
It said several engineering approaches, including beach renourishment or construction
of an artificial reef, were determined “not to be viable solutions”.
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