Beach cleaning

Beach cleaning program along our Port Phillip Bay coastline

Port Phillip Bay beaches are cleaned fortnightly using a hybrid cleaning model. This approach combines mechanical raking with hand cleaning.

Mechanical raking has been reinstated across most accessible beaches, ensuring efficient removal of litter and seaweed.

Hand cleaning continues in areas that are either:

Inaccessible to machinery due to terrain or infrastructure.
Home to native plants that require a gentle cleaning method and careful preservation.

Protection of Coast Saltwort (Salsola)

A number of Salsola has been discovered on our Port Phillip beaches. The Salsola is listed as an endangered plant in Victoria, and it is imperative to protect these plants. We have worked closely with Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to develop an appropriate management approach and have applied for a Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act permit as well as Marine and Coastal Act consent and a planning permit. Our management approach looks to protect 86 per cent of plants. Impacted plants will be offset in accordance with DEECA requirements. All areas where Salsola has been reported are currently being hand-cleaned. Raking will be expanded to some of these areas after permits are approved. We will update this page when permits are in place.

Hand cleaning trial July 2024 –August 2025

The hand cleaning of beaches trial provided valuable insights into the unique challenges of maintaining our coastline. Key findings include:

Environmental sensitivity: Some beach areas contain native and vulnerable vegetation that is best preserved through manual cleaning.
Access limitations: Certain sections of the coastline are not suitable for mechanical equipment due to narrow paths, steep inclines, or infrastructure.
Community engagement: The trial prompted strong community feedback and increased volunteer participation through groups like Beach Patrol and Friends Groups.

These discoveries have shaped our current hybrid cleaning model.