Council Minutes - Section C: Notice of Motion - 22 July 2014
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Notices of Motion tabled at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 22 July 2014 which was held at City Hall in Little Malop Street, Geelong.
The Ramblers Road foreshore, near Point Richards Portarlington, is privately owned by Council, it is approximately 30metres wide and just over 1km long. Currently there are 52 dwellings that back onto the foreshore, many of which are temporary or holiday residences.
This section of coast can be described as being highly active with relatively large volumes of sand moving seasonally along the shoreline. The Ramblers Road foreshore is very low lying and the only protection against storm tide events is the barrier sand dune system along the upper inter-tidal zone.
Since 2005 the western end of Ramblers Road foreshore has receded in the order of 30-40 metres. The small coastal lagoons and associated vegetation in this area have been lost through this recession.
Over the past year the recession has increased to a point where the severe storm events of the 24th and the 28th of June 2014 caused extensive breaches of the primary dune system, destruction of coastal vegetation and considerable damage to the shared path. Many areas of the foreshore were inundated for considerable periods of time and a number of dwellings were sand bagged as a precaution against flooding.
Council has implemented a course of action which has included repairs to the shared path, reinstatement of the primary dune barrier and the establishment of a sand fence designed to protect the dune.
Council has had positive results using these techniques in other vulnerable areas; however, until the new dune system can be consolidated it is likely that future severe weather events will also result in further erosion. Council will continue to monitor the situation and may consider expanding on these initial works if they prove effective in this area.
A more permanent solution to this issue would involve an engineered response, such as a seawall or groynes. This would be expensive and would require State Government support along with a financial contribution.
Cr Ellis moved, Cr Richards seconded -
That Council receives a report by 9 September 2014 on the costs and timelines for the engagement of an independent consultant to conduct a comprehensive review of options to protect Ramblers Road foreshore area from storm events and erosion. This review will need to consider capital costs, planning process requirements to install additional infrastructure and community and government consultation requirements.
Carried.
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