RESIDENTS and visitors are up in arms at Mornington Peninsula Shire’s near two year closure of the Birdrock Beach access stairs. A recently formed action group ‘Repair the Stairs – Birdrock Beach Action Group’ held a protest rally on Saturday (21 September) in front of the closed stairs leading down to Birdrock Beach.
The spokesperson for the Birdrock Beach Action Group, Sharon Forrest, told The News that the Birdrock Beach stairs were closed to the public at the beginning of December 2022 after a severe storm and associated king tide caused the collapse of the bottom three sections of the stairway (Beach access stairs closed for safety, The News 17/1/23).
The king tide also eroded sand away from underneath the concrete footings at the base of the stairs, further destabilising the stairway.
A sign was erected stating that repair work would be included in the shire’s 2024/25 financial year budget. “Our shire is responsible for maintaining and repairing infrastructure along this section of our coastline,” said Forrest. “To date there has been no action taken to repair the stairs and restore access to beach users. And the repair work has not been included in this year’s budget as proposed. “This hidden gem is a haven for hundreds of locals and visitors alike, as well as being a sanctuary for local and immigrating seabirds, along with a wonderful fish-filled offshore reef.
“In addition, a consequence of the stair closure at Birdrock Beach is that this lovely sandy cove is not being cleaned of plastic, bottles, microplastics, fishing waste, all of which are harmful to our seabirds. “The long sandy beach is also is not being regularly maintained or monitored. “The Summer months are fast approaching. It is nearly two years since the Birdrock Stairs were closed by the Mornington Peninsula Shire and our action group wants them repaired as soon as possible.
The Birdrock Beach Action Group have started a petition calling on Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, current councillors and council candidates to commit to urgently repairing the stairs. The petition can be signed at:
www.change.org/p/open-birdrock-beach
First published in the Mornington News – 24 September 2024
