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Werribee South Boatshed Precinct Improvement
Plan Submission
Mr Russell Beer Open Space Planner Wyndham City Council WERRIBEE VIC 3030
Dear Russell, Werribee South Boatshed Precinct Improvement
Plan
The Wyndham Boatshed Association (WBA)
represents over 90% of the 144 boatsheds situated within the Werribee South
Foreshore Reserve. Contrary to the
public outcry of a few dissident boatshed occupiers and the incorrect
information being spread along the foreshore over the last 3 years, most
boatshed owners are happy to comply with the regulations set out in the
Wyndham City Councils Boatshed Management Policy, which was adopted by
council on In the Boatshed Management Policy a fee is
charged on an annual basis on shed occupiers as well as council rates. The annual fee is to be used for the
improvement of the Werribee South Boatshed Precinct. Most boatsheds have been owned by people
who have occupied them for many years, and as such have a greater intimate
knowledge of the area than others who visit it on an irregular basis and
place visions on this foreshore based on other areas of Port Phillip Bay,
which have a totally different aspects and orientations to the Werribee South
Foreshore Reserve. As such, the WBA
believes that as it is our money being spent on the foreshore for the publics
benefit, a far greater weighting should be given to the submissions presented
by boatshed occupiers. We also note that when the Foreshore
improvement plan for around the This submission is based on member input and fundamentally
supports the Werribee South Boatshed Improvement Plan. However, through all negotiations with
Council the WBA has requested that Foreshore Management Committee be formed
to oversee the implementation of all policy and regulations relating to the
Werribee South Boatshed Precinct. We
still stand by this request. Yours truly Harley Hazlewood-Smith President Werribee South Boatshed Precinct Improvement Plan Submission Prepared by The Wyndham Boatshed Association Inc. In the Werribee South Boatshed Precinct
Improvement Plan Report prepared by KLM Gerner Consulting Group the report
mentions the Draft Boatshed Management Policy. The report lists key issues Resolution of Boatshed Management and policing
policy
This policy was adopted by Council on
Proposed Bay Trail and Car Parking
The WBA supports the proposed Bay trail on the
condition that it does not alter parking that is already adjacent to
boatsheds. Should the land be too
narrow to allow for car access, car parking, and the bike trail either shared
access be allowed, or as the report states land be acquired to allow for the
bay trail. The report does not mention
the fact that both Cunningham and Campbells Cove Roads are dead ends
therefore, unlike other coastal roads, which this report appears to allude to
there, is no through traffic. The
population density of the area is not that of the eastern side of Current Coastal Land Width. The report states that in places the coastal
strip is quite narrow, and that the acquisition of private land should be
investigated. The WBA proposes that
any improvement that is constrained by the narrow nature of the coastal
reserve be postponed until sufficient private land is acquired. If the land cannot be acquired then the
improvement should be abandoned. Protection of agricultural land. The report notes that increased visitation
will have some detrimental affects on landholders and their agricultural
businesses. This will also have
potential detrimental affect on Boatshed Occupiers through vandalism,
littering, and trespass. The report
suggests that potential visitors may be at conflict with machinery noise,
spray drift and odours from fertilizers.
We wish to highlight the fact that these exist now, and as long as the
land is agricultural then these will always exist. We see no reason why this should be an
issue in the future when it has always been there. The general public has a choice to use the
beach(es) or go elsewhere. The same
cannot be said for the market gardeners. We note that the report
treads lightly on the fact that the current fence line with the private
landholders is primarily composed of noxious weeds. We support the placement of temporary protection
until the indigenous plantings are established, on the proviso that these
temporary structures are maintained, but not at the cost of the boatshed
community. Drainage Outlets
There are 4 drainage outlets that are the property
of Southern Rural Water that discharge into Steep and eroding Cliff Faces
The Coastal strip between the Campbells Cove
Boatsheds and Baileys Beach Boatsheds is a prime beach which, with rock
beaching could become a well visited beach.
The WBA does not object to any planting and/or fencing of these cliffs
as long as access to boatsheds is not impeded. The Boatshed Community is open to
consultation should the potential for access to any boatshed be impeded and
requests to be informed should this be the case. Clothing Optional Beach
The WBA agrees that this area has the greatest
potential for development within the precinct. We see the clothing optional
category that relates to this beach as the greatest impediment to it being
fully utilised by the general public.
We urge council to make representation to the State Government to
repeal the clothing option for this section of beach prior to any money being
spent on this area of the precinct. Dumping
The WBA has conducted annual hard rubbish
collections from the boatshed precinct since 2003 at its members cost. The WBA also requested that Council remove
the dump master from the Foreshore reserve as this was being continuously
used as a refuse transfer station by persons not affiliated with the
precinct. Contrary to allegations most of the rubbish collected does not come
from the boatshed community but is dumped by persons not affiliated with the
area. The report states that this
rubbish “when it blows or is deposited in the water as it can get
tangled on the numerous sea and migratory birds which use the coastal
strip.” The report makes no
allowance for rubbish being brought ashore with the tidal movement from other
parts of Ad hoc groynes, boat ramps and associated
structures. In the past reports have stated that the ad
hoc groynes built by boatshed occupiers has not stopped the beaches
eroding. It is pleasing to see that a
report now confirms what all boatshed occupiers knew, that these structures
were preventing further scouring of the beach, and actually increasing sand
build up. Theses groynes have been
highlighted in the report as being obstructions along the beach. The WBA states that without these groynes
there would not be a beach at all, and the alternative groynes as outlined in
the report being at least 20m long, 2.5m high 4.0m in width at the top, and
11.5m wide at their base will provide a far greater obstruction than at
present. Perhaps other alternatives
should be investigated, Hardwood timber could be one alternative as we note
the Point Cook Airbase pier is still standing. We also believe that no consideration has been
given to the large amount of sea weed that comes ashore on this side of the
bay. We believe that no consideration
has been given to the Southerly aspect that Campbells Cove and Baileys Beach
have to Port Phillip Bay as opposed to other foreshores around the Bay that
have Bathing Box and Boatshed Structures on them. This Southerly aspect means that with the
prevailing wind being South to South No consideration has been given to the mussel
and sea grass beds, these appear to be at risk should the groynes be sited as
per the plans outlined. It appears
that the seagrass will be covered by a build up of sand, and mussel beds will
be scoured out as they are on the Easterly side of one of the proposed
groynes. The boatramps are required by boatsheds to
store their boats within their sheds.
The WBA proposes that no ramp be removed, rather, should any ramp
require repair that the appropriate authority setout the criteria for the
repairs. The Standards for Boatshed Construction does not provide any rules
or regulations for the ramps and no ramp is on any boatsheds footprint. As such consultation will be required to
ascertain liability should an accident occur, this will fall to Parks
Victoria or the Council as their jurisdiction overlap on the beach area. Until a clear set of guidelines and
regulations are provided by the appropriate authority no action should be
taken. The WBA wishes to be party to
the setting of the regulations to ensure some knowledge of the requirements
of a boatramp and slipway is present
when the regulations are being set. Accessibility. The WBA totally rejects the allegation that
“...the absence of breaks between them…” The boatsheds are in groups of between
6-12, this is an allowance that should one be destroyed by fire only some
will catch and not all. There is ample
space at regular intervals between the sheds to allow access to the
beach(es). The report also mentions the slipways and
ramps as impediments to access to the beach and water. Boatsheds require ramps and slipways, that
is why they are boatsheds, they also require access to the water. Again we remind Council that the proposed
groynes will impede access to the beach and water to a far greater extent
than the current ramps and slipways by the sheer dimensions of the proposed
groynes. Recommended Works and Actions
Access Steps The WBA requests consultation
with the relevant boatshed occupier regarding any steps that do not meet
building codes or safety regulations.
We note that these steps are not listed on any licensees footprint and
as such are not covered by any boatshed occupiers public liability insurance. We suggest that the footprints of some
sheds may require to be adjusted with consultation and agreement of the
affected boatsheds. The WBA is happy
for steps to be constructed to access the beach between Baileys Beach and
Campbells Cove to allow the public access to that beach. There are several road run offs that lead
to the beach in front of the Campbells Cove Boatsheds to allow public access
to the beach. Solar Lighting This is listed as providing
safety, reduce vandalism, and extend hours of use in the precinct. Currently the Werribee South Foreshore
Reserve regulations as gazetted, restrict the foreshore use to between
sunrise and sunset. The WBA members
currently tolerate a high level of vandalism to their sheds and see no
reduction due to increased roadway lighting, on the contrary we foresee an
increase. Police numbers in the
Wyndham area are insufficient to allow for regular patrols of this precinct,
and with no residents the area, is frequently vandalized, robbed and a haven
for rubbish dumpers. We believe
lighting will only increase all of the above, and invite camping within the
reserve. If lighting is to be considered we suggest the
Werribee Foreshore Reserve Regulations be amended in State Parliament to
allow legal after dark useage. Shared Pathway
The WBA rejects the need for a shared pathway
until sufficient land can be acquired to allow for it as well as the current
roadway and carparking. We will only
support the shared roadway when traffic numbers can be proven to dictate the
need for a separate pathway as we outlined in the A point that seem to be overlooked but is
quite common knowledge regarding Another point that also seems to have been
missed is the fact that although there is sand on the beach if you walk out 10-15
metres at Campbells Cove the texture is similar to mud rather than sand. Not very conducive to making it a popular
beach. Community Consultation
The Wyndham Boatshed Association is in support
of most of the improvements to the Boatshed Precinct but would have
appreciated to be consulted prior to the report being distributed to allow
for some practical alterations. This
consultation process was outlined in the Council minutes dated We again highlight the fact that when the
township foreshore improvement plan was released, a community information
night was conducted. With the boatshed
precinct a letter was sent to boatshed occupiers advising the plan had been
released. The WBA never received a copy of the updated
report as outlined in the motion put forward on This again leads us to the assumption that
council officers are happy to take both our rates and License Fees but prefer
to avoid the boatshed community for input on any item that may affect them as
we are non residents. The WBA supports the boatshed precinct
improvement plan in principal but seeks more consultation especially from
council officers, the instigation of the Foreshore Management Committee to
oversee the implementation of any works within the boatshed precinct. . September 2005 Update
As boatsheds change
hands new people join the foreshore and to assist them in understanding what
has been done in the past we have compiled a list of questions that seem to
continually pop up.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Committee continues dialogue with council regarding
all matters relating to the Werribee South Boatshed Precinct Association Contacts
As at October 2009 the officers of the
Association are:
These members represent you, and are more than happy to answer questions on the foreshore. Please be aware they all do this in their spare time and the response may not be immediate.
SERVICES The WBA has listed services below that maybe helpful. These services are a free listing that members have been happy with. Please ensure you seek other quotes. Registered Gas
Fitter:
Bertone Plumbing Maintenance
Bill Smillie 0412578051 Office 97311470 Asbestos Removal:
AsGuard Asbestos Removal LPG Delivery:
ELGAS Useful Links
Wyndham City Council - www.wyndham.vic.gov.au
tel 97420777 Department of Sustainability and Environment - www.dse.vic.gov.au Association of Bayside Municipalities – www.abmonline.asn.au Central Coastal Board – www.ccb.vic.gov.au Werribee South Coastguard – www.coastguard.com.au
tel: 97421502 Fishnet –
www.fishnet.com.au Bureau of Meteorology – www.bom.gov.au Ozwinds – www.ozwind.com.au |
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