World’s best surfers help protect Bells Beach

A DEDICATED group of volunteers, including some of the world’s best surfers, have joined forces to protect the fragility of the Bells Beach coastal ecosystem.

In the lead-up to this year’s Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, members of WSL One Ocean, the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA), Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC), and surfers Lakey Peterson, Carly Shanahan, Joel Vaughan and Liam O’Brien helped mitigate early stages of erosion and stop informal access.

Using a technique called brush matting, the group laid down harvested branches collected from nearby, to encourage revegetation while also acting as a barrier to preventing spectators from venturing close to the cliff edges.

With safety and sustainability at the forefront, the work done by volunteers will allow future generations to enjoy Bells Beach safely from the water and the land.

GORCAPA conservation co-ordinator Scott Hives said the dangers posed by cliffs along the Great Ocean Road are serious and cannot be ignored.

“We’ve seen major cliff collapses in Anglesea and of course, the tragic rock fall at Jarosite Headlands near Bells Beach on New Year’s Eve in 2022.

“These incidents serve as a stark reminder of how unpredictable these cliffs can be.”