Community input sought on coastal erosion at Grove

THE Ocean Grove Main Beach continues to be heavily affected by coastal storm erosion and Barwon Coast is investigating what solutions are available to address this issue.

Chief executive officer Gary McPike said part of the solution to the erosion impacts would be the replacement of the main beach access ramp and foreshore protection works.

Mr McPike said the ramp was old and with recent storm impacts becoming more severe it needed to be redesigned and rebuilt to maintain safe access to this significant stretch of coastline.

He said Barwon Coast needed the community and key stakeholder groups’ assistance to make the best decisions on a new ramp design and foreshore protection arrangements at this site.

Two community open houses will be held on Thursday, October 11 from 4pm to 7pm and October 13 from 10am to 1pm at the City of Greater Geelong Customer Service Centre on the corner of Presidents Avenue and The Avenue, Ocean Grove.

“We invite anyone with an interest in the ramp area to come along and say hello. If you have any old photos of this area we’d love to see them.”

Barwon Coast staff and environmental consultants from Water Technology who are assisting with a review of coastal processes along the main beach will be at the open houses to answer any questions.

Mr McPike said the existing ramp is structurally compromised following a large storm in 2015 and continuing ocean surges since then.

“We have lost six to eight metres of this foredune in the last 10 years.”

More information on this project can be found at barwoncoast.com.au/15w-ramp.