Torquay Front Beach - Sea Wall Project

Torquay Sea Wall

The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee plans to invest $450,000 to upgrade the Torquay Front Beach Sea Wall over the next two years. Planned works involve replacing the beach access stairs near Anderson Street, establishing an all abilities footpath between Cosy Corner and Anderson Street stairs, and installing a coastal protection structure to prevent erosion and improve access.

The works are to be completed in accordance with the recommendations of the Torquay Central Foreshore Master Plan 2005, following extensive consultation including on site displays and direct mail out to residents along the Esplanade, and again in 2016.

We are currently seeking further community feedback on this project. Please read this fact sheet and let us know what you think.

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* 1. Are you a regular beach user/resident/other?

Regular beach user

Resident

Local trader

Holiday home owner

Other (please specify)

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* 2. Great Ocean Road Coast is seeking to protect the northern section of coastline from erosion. What would you like to see us do?

Extend the sea wall in natural rock. (Further information: the use of rockwork is cheaper than bluestone and concrete. The more gentle sloping shape, rougher surface and gaps between the larger rocks, would stabilise the existing erosion and reducing wave energy. This option also mitigates future risks with sea level rise and increased storm severity.)

Extend the sea wall in concrete. (Further information: The use of concrete is cheaper than bluestone although it would not reduce wave energy or assist in holding sand on the beach long term. Other consideration is that concrete would not be consistent with the heritage character of this section of the foreshore.)

Extend the bluestone seawall. (Further information: the most expensive option. Additional funds would need to be sourced, delaying works This option does nothing to dissipate wave energy or assist in holding sand on the beach. In the longer term this option would likely cause further erosion problems, requiring additional stabilisation measures in the future.)

Install a rock groyne (ie a wall built into the sea). (Further information. Used sometimes in cases of severe erosion. The use of a rockwork groyne would change the landscape of the foreshore. Torquay Front Beach is generally stable with only this short section of erosion.)

Do nothing. (Further information: the cheapest option. Consequence would be that the existing stairs will need to be closed in the interests of public safety as the bank becomes steeper and more unstable. The bank will continue to erode but is unlikely to threaten the toilet block in the short term.)

Other engineering options (please specify)

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* 3. Construction works are planned with boardwalk sections to protect the heritage-listed Norfolk Island Pine tree roots. What materials would you like the boardwalk to be made?

Timber. (Further information. Timber is strong and provides the greatest flexibility in avoiding critical tree roots and construction delays. Australian hardwood is used extensively on the foreshore and is consistent with the heritage character of the area.)

Recycled Plastics. (Further information. Now widely available and commonly used in coastal locations these products are however not as strong as timber or steel. These materials are also not currently used in this area of the foreshore and may not be in keeping with the heritage character.)

Stainless steel. (Further information. Durable but very expensive and not widely used on the Torquay Foreshore. To design the subfloor the tree roots need to be exposed. The delay between exposing the roots and then design and fabrication of the boardwalk subfloor in steel will significantly increase the risk to tree health.)

Other (please specify)

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* 4. The existing Anderson Street beach access stairs need replacing. What materials do you think we should use?

Concrete. (Further information. The existing foreshore access stairs provide a base for new concrete. The existing granitic stair base can be reshaped and new concrete poured over the top using gravity, without need for machinery access and disturbance of vegetation or cultural heritage values.)

Timber. (Further information. The foreshore stairs are located within an area of native vegetation. If replaced in timber the area will be continually disturbed every 20-25 years when they need to be rebuilt. The stairs will be overshadowed by vegetation which means in winter they will remain wet and more slippery for longer.)

Fibre reinforced plastic. (Further information. These products provide higher levels of tread grip and are more durable than timber. However, there is limited machine access to dig in post holes, supply and erect the structure. This material is not currently used in this section of the foreshore and may not be compatible with the heritage character.)

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* 5. Safety standards require we install handrails on stairways and boardwalks. What materials would you like to see used in this area?

Aluminium magnesium (Further information. A new product it looks like the dull colour of galvanised steel but is more durable and corrosion resistant. Cheaper to install and replace if damaged.)

Stainless steel. (Further information. Durable but not currently used on the foreshore. More expensive to install and replace if damaged than other products.)

Galvanised steel. (Further information. Existing handrails on the sea wall promenade beach access steps are galvanised steel. The low key grey colour is consistent with the heritage character, however they are subject to increased level of corrosion and required more regular replacement than other more durable products.)

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* 6. Do you have a view on what material we use for the path?

Same as surrounds

Other (please specify)

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* 7. There are a number of options for lighting on the Anderson Street access stairs. Which option would you prefer?

Solar powered bollard lighting (Further information. Cheaper and easier to install. Provides less light than traditional electricity based systems but are renewable)

Extend the existing lighting. (Further information. Conduits can be extended from the existing lights and low level LED lighting can be used along the new stairs. This approach will require additional costs to establish and maintain but provide more light.)

No lighting

Other (please specify)

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* 8. We are considering some furniture in next to the works, what would you like to see there? eg. seats and picnic tables at the base of the Anderson Street stairs.

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* 1. Are you a regular beach user/resident/other?

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* 2. Great Ocean Road Coast is seeking to protect the northern section of coastline from erosion. What would you like to see us do?

Question Title

* 3. Construction works are planned with boardwalk sections to protect the heritage-listed Norfolk Island Pine tree roots. What materials would you like the boardwalk to be made?

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* 4. The existing Anderson Street beach access stairs need replacing. What materials do you think we should use?

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* 5. Safety standards require we install handrails on stairways and boardwalks. What materials would you like to see used in this area?

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* 6. Do you have a view on what material we use for the path?

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* 7. There are a number of options for lighting on the Anderson Street access stairs. Which option would you prefer?

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* 8. We are considering some furniture in next to the works, what would you like to see there? eg. seats and picnic tables at the base of the Anderson Street stairs.

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* 9. Do you have any other comments, questions, or concerns?