King tides smash coast

HIGH tides and large swells have damaged areas across the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula.

The damage caused by the dual oceanic event last weekend is still being assessed.

On the Bellarine, the staircase and car park at Cylinders (31W) on 13th Beach Road are temporarily closed due to sand erosion at the top of the dunes, which recent high tides have exacerbated. There is currently a 1.5-metre drop at the bottom of the stairs.

Barwon Coast said in a statement that the area would reopen when the sand returns naturally following tidal movements.

“We’re planting Hairy Spinifex, a native grass across the dunes, to help stabilise the sand during high tides and reduce large slumps,” the statement read.

“Sand erosion is a natural process, the product of the coast constantly adjusting to waves and tides at any given moment in time.”

On the Surf Coast, the full impacts of the high tides are still being assessed.

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority reported that foreshore rangers are removing beach access matting at Fishermans Beach, Torquay, and placing warning signs and closures at affected beach access points along the Great Ocean Road.

“Our team will be out along the coast tomorrow completing erosion assessments and ensuring hazardous access points are made safe – this will involve some temporary closures where large drops have made access unsafe,” a spokesperson said.

The Authority encourages people to report any hazards associated with erosion or unsafe beach entries to [email protected] and to use extra caution when accessing the coast as drop-offs and other changes may have occurred.