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$3 million rock seawall to be built at eroding Portsea beach

A $3 MILLION rock seawall has been chosen as the “only viable solution” to help Portsea’s eroding beach — but the decision has “disgusted” some, who say it will not fix the problem.

The existing sandbag seawall at Portsea Beach will be replaced with a permanent rock wall.
The existing sandbag seawall at Portsea Beach will be replaced with a permanent rock wall.

A $3 MILLION rock seawall has been chosen as the “only viable solution” to Portsea’s missing beach.

The Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) will soon begin to design the wall, which will replace the existing sandbag seawall.

The decision follows an independent options assessment by consulting firm Advisian, which analysed five options, but did not recommend a specific solution.

The options ranged in cost from $2.2 million to $42 million.

Nepean Ratepayers Association Colin Watson was “disgusted” by the decision.

“The beach will never be fixed under that plan,” Mr Watson said.

“There were only two options in that report that offered a permanent solution, either the reconfiguration of the sea bed or the construction of an undersea structure to deflect the wave.”

Those options were priced about $20 million each.

“It’s clearly come down to money, and that’s really disappointing,” Mr Watson said.

Portsea beach is being eaten away by erosion. Picture: Jason Sammon
Portsea beach is being eaten away by erosion. Picture: Jason Sammon

DELWP regional director (Port Phillip) Kelly Crosthwaite said the erosion at Portsea front beach was “a complex issue”.

“In reviewing other options assessed and put forward by the community, we considered the high estimated costs involved, as well as their technical uncertainty and potential impact on other parts of the coast,” Ms Crosthwaite said.

“Based on this, we have decided that a rock seawall is our only viable approach.”

DELWP will soon seek community input on it.

The options assessment can be viewed at coastsandmarine.vic.gov.au/coastal-programs/portsea

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/3-million-rock-seawall-to-be-built-at-eroding-portsea-beach/news-story/d94ca4c87ec8a5ef867dc128a11a6ddf