MR MORRIS (Mornington) (11:43): (5473)
My question is to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change.
I have frequently raised the issue of sand loss and erosion at Mount Martha North beach, most recently via an adjournment matter on 12 November last year.
In her response the minister claimed that despite strong community support the construction of a groyne to protect the beach would not be effective in keeping sand on it.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s Mount Martha North Options Analysis, dated June 2019, suggested two options. The first was a do-nothing approach, which does not protect the headland middens that are there or provide a beach; and alternatively the construction of a groyne, which would maintain a beach of, in their words, ‘usable width’ and also protect the middens. So the question to the minister is: why has she decided to abandon this beach when a clear alternative exists and federal funding is available?