Torquay beach ramp removed due to erosion

HEAVY rainfall and erosion prompted the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority to implement a beach exclusion zone at Jan Juc and remove the timber access ramp to the beach near the Torquay SLSC clubhouse.

High flows through Spring Creek eroded the sand at its mouth and exposed the ramp footings, prompting the authority to temporarily remove the infrastructure before an expected return of sand.

“There was also a series of small landslips and cliff falls,” GORCAPA chief executive officer Jodie Sizer said.

“The largest [was] a 20-metre section at Jan Juc where we have established an exclusion zone and installed additional warning signs.”

Extra warning signs have been installed in the area and the authority is organising a geotechnical reinspection to ensure it has appropriate controls in place.

Other cliff collapses were spotted along Demons Bluff at Anglesea, an area that has been closed to the public due to several falls over recent years and the subsequent risk posed to the public.

Another medium sized landslip occured on the beach south west of the Anglesea surf club and at the beaches eastern end access was closed beside the river due to erosion.

Ms Sizer also reported path washouts and potholes in the region, but described the general impact of the heavy rains as “minor impacts to our coas..”

“Our teams responded quickly to make all affected areas safe, assess damage and organise repairs,” she said.