Welcome to the Mornington Peninsula: The place of disappearing beaches
Published on 22 September 2022
Dear Victorian community, we know you love your summer holidays on the Mornington Peninsula but sadly due to disappearing beaches and unstable piers we won’t be able to accommodate you anymore.
This statement could be true sooner than we think! We must act now. The Victorian Government must provide urgent funding to ensure our beaches are not washed away and coastal infrastructure, such as piers and jetties, is maintained.
The Mornington Peninsula has 10 per cent of Victoria’s coastline (192km), with the Shire directly managing 64km of the coast.
Our region welcomes 8.5 million visitors annually with 34 percent visiting over the summer. This puts pressure on our coasts and justifiably there is a strong expectation from the community for continued safe access to our coastal infrastructure.
We need to plan for expected sea level rises associated with climate change, as well as increased storm surges and more intense rainfall events.
To help better manage our coastline, we are asking for:
- $500,000 over three years to develop a Mornington Peninsula Coastal Strategy focussed on adaptation planning and improved amenity (to match Council funding of $175,000).
- Annual funding of $100,000, for immediate damage control for risks such as landslips, erosion and infrastructure damage (to match Council funding of $100,000).
- A Victorian Government planning scheme amendment, in response to DELWP’s Coastal Hazard Assessment (rather than individual council amendments).
- A guarantee that local piers (especially Dromana and Flinders) will be adequately funded and maintained into the future.
Join us in shouting out for the Peninsula. Shout out for our piers and beaches. Shout out for beach holidays.
Demand better. Act now. Visit: mornpen.vic.gov.au/SHOUTOUT
Quotes attributable to Mayor, Anthony Marsh:
"If we don’t get urgent funding from the Victorian Government to better manage our coastline, piers and jetties, Victoria’s beloved beach holiday may soon be a thing of the past. And our community is rightfully angry about the state of our much-loved beaches, piers and jetties.
Recent landslips in Mount Martha have significantly affected residents and caused road closures. Smaller scale slips after heavy rain have also caused cliff collapses and path closures in Mornington, Mount Eliza and Flinders. Dromana pier is now partially closed and needs an investment of $10M to be repaired. The historic Flinders pier also requires a further commitment of $10M. Although the Shire welcomes the recent $1.5M state budget funding, it will not be enough to restore the timber pier.
Our Peninsula community demands better funding for our coasts. The Victorian community which visits the Peninsula each year deserves better.
Deputy Mayor, Cr Lisa Dixon, Cr Debra Mar, Cr Sarah Race and Mayor, Cr Anthony Marsh - standing at Mount Martha where there once was a beach