Workers trying to protect 240km of one of Australia’s most stunning coastlines confess they face a “significant challenge” from changing weather patterns. Coastal erosion and storm tides have lashed iconic beaches along the Great Ocean Road in the country’s south, forcing the temporary closure of one world-famous tourist destination next week.
Pictures show large cracks along the seawall at Torquay Surf Beach, which is just a short walk away from Bells Beach where the Rip Curl Pro surf competition is held each year. A separate image shows erosion around Port Campbell, near the 12 Apostles rock formation.
Tradies and engineers have been called out to protect the seawall at Torquay. They’ll place one-tonne bags of rock on the beach to steady the bank as assessments are undertaken to draw up a long-term plan. This will result in its closure on Monday 16 December — when the weather is expected to hit 33 degrees on the coast — and it will remain off-limits until Friday.
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Port Campbell has also been impacted by erosion. Source: Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority
Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, which manages beaches between Torquay and Warrnambool, said it’s working to “strengthen coastal resilience” ahead of the summer holidays.
The Authority’s Jesse Parsons-Jones said this week “scientific research tells us that Australia’s coastline is changing”. ” So planning for the future of the Great Ocean Road requires a delicate balancing act,” he said
What’s causing the beach erosion problems?
“Beach nourishment”, a process that involves pumping in large quantities of sand or sediment to combat erosion, will be routinely be used across several of the region’s beaches.
Parson-Jones said it is proven to be an effective nature-based approach to enhance the coast’s natural ability to withstand impacts from storms, wave action and storm surges.
However, the process is not a long-term solution to erosion, which is a major issue around the country, particularly further north in NSW where houses have been built along the beachfront. The problem is driven by inappropriate foreshore development, climate change, and natural weather events.
“Behind every picture-perfect view, there’s a team of people rolling up their sleeves to monitor erosion, revegetate the coast, repair access ramps and maintain pathways,” Parsons-Jones said.
Anyone looking for a safe beach to visit is urged to download Surf Life Saving Australia’s Beachsafe App.
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