Funding Announced to Protect Port Phillip Bay Beaches

The Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, Lisa Neville, has announced $4.8 million to protect Port Phillip Bay’s beaches and foreshores from erosion, and increase the amount of open beach space available to the public.

The program aims to provide effective protection of the coastal foreshores and improve the public amenity of Port Phillip Bay beaches.

“Whether it’s renourishments that widen and lengthen beaches or the work we do with local communities to ensure erosion is properly monitored over the long term, this funding is important for the health of the Bay’s coastline,” said Neville.

“These renourishment projects have been prioritized and we will work with local land managers to deliver the projects over the next two years.”

The program includes:

• Beach renourishment at Sandringham; Sorrento West; Eastern Beach Geelong, St Helens and Moorpanyl; Hampton; Frankston South; and Carrum;
• Annual beach monitoring with input from the community and local government;
• Two awards to post graduate university students for coastal research projects in Port Phillip and Western Port.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) consulted extensively with land managers including councils to finalize the program and will consult further to implement the program over the coming two years.