Erosion cause debated
30th March 2010
From the Parliamentary Library
Publisher: News Ltd Regional/Suburban
Publication: Leader-Mornington Peninsula, Page 16 (Tue 30 Mar 2010)
Keywords: Martin (1),Dixon (1)
Edition: 1 - ML
Section: NewsErosion cause debated
DRAMATIC erosion has made Portsea beach unsafe and unusable, says Nepean state Liberal MP Martin Dixon.
Mr Dixon called on the State Government to save the beach.
``This previously pristine and safe beach is now becoming unsightly and unsafe,'' he said.
``Urgent action needs to be taken.''
Portsea Hotel proprietor Andrew Henderson said the erosion had become worse since the channel-deepening project started.
``Large swells and high tides have been cutting away all the sand,'' he said.
The Office of the Environmental Monitor, an independent body employed to monitor the effects of dredging the bay, said there was no scientific evidence to back claims dredging had caused the erosion.
OEM spokeswoman Laura Hill said tidal height monitoring had shown the bay's high tides had risen by about 10mm since the entrance to the bay was deepened less than expected.
``The OEM considers that the small change is not enough to cause an accelerated rate of shoreline erosion,'' Ms Hill said.
``Claims that the bay's tides have risen by 80mm are false.''
Port of Melbourne Authority spokesman Peter Harry agreed with Ms Hill.
``There is no scientific evidence to suggest that any perceived erosion has any connection to the dredging,'' Mr Harry said.
Ms Hill said the OEM had found that coastal erosion was the result of severe weather.
``It is worth noting that in 2009 there were several significant storms, including one on April 26 that affected tides in both Bass Strait and Port Phillip Bay.''
South East Councils Climate Change Alliance executive officer Greg Hunt said it was likely that climate change had contributed to the severe weather.
``We can't say definitely because that is not how science works, but the science does tell us that these things are going to happen more often.''
Blue Wedges action group spokeswoman Jenny Warfe said the Port of Melbourne Authority should acknowledge dredging had contributed to the erosion.
``The water levels are higher because of the opening of the bay,'' she said.
The Leader was unable to obtain a comment from state Environment Minister Gavin Jennings.
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Martin Dixon MP
State Member for Nepean
Shop 1, McCrae Plaza
Cnr Lonsdale Street and Pt Nepean Road
McCRAE VIC 3938
Phone: (61) 3 5986 6661
Fax: (61) 3 5981 1360
Email: martin.dixon@parliament.vic.gov.au