SFA E-Newsletter Summer-Autumn 2016 Final

Sandringham Foreshore Association Newsletter
Summer-Autumn 2016
SANDRINGHAM FORESHORE ASSOCIATION (SFA)
Founded January 2007
ABN 42947116512

A CHARITABLE NOT FOR PROFIT VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION
SFA
PO Box 52
Sandringham 3191
[email protected] Website: http://sandringhamforeshore.tumblr.com/

Patron of SFA: Professor Tim Flannery
From the president of SFA, Dr Vicki Karalis

Welcome everybody, to our first newsletter for 2016.

Update on erosion of the Sandringham beaches - Great news!!
I have exciting news to share with our community!
Please note from the media release below, the Minister has included funding
for Sandringham beaches renourishment to provide effective protection of our
coastal foreshore and improve the public amenity of our beaches!!

$4.8 Million to Protect Port Phillip Bay Beaches and Foreshores
Media Release 21 December 2015
Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, Lisa Neville, today announced
$4.8 million in funds allocated to protect Port Phillip Bay’s beaches and foreshores from
erosion, and increase the amount of open beach space available to the public.
The protection of Port Phillip Beaches and Foreshore Program will benefit local
communities and those who visit the Bay’s beaches, noting about four out of every five
Victorians visiting our coast at least once a year.
The program aims to provide effective protection of our coastal foreshores and improve
the public amenity of Port Phillip Bay beaches.
The program includes:
 Beach renourishment at Sandringham; Sorrento West; Eastern Beach Geelong,
St Helens and Moorpanyl; Hampton; Frankston South; and Carrum.
 Annual beach monitoring with input from the community and local government.
 Two awards to post graduate university students for coastal research projects in
Port Phillip and Western Port.
Communities are reminded that further assessment of individual projects or severe
weather over the period may delay the works program.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) consulted
extensively with land managers including councils to finalise the program and will consult
further to implement the program over the coming two years.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and
Water, Lisa Neville
“I am pleased to announce that eight different Port Phillip Bay beaches and
foreshores and the communities that enjoy them, will benefit from this $4.8
million program.”
“Whether it’s renourishments that widen and lengthen beaches or the work we
do with local communities to ensure erosion is properly monitored over the
long term, this funding is important for the health of the Bay’s coastline.”
“These renourishment projects have been prioritised and we will work with
local land managers to deliver the projects over the next two years.”
Source:
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/4-8-million-to-protect-port-phillip-bay-beaches-andforeshores/

This outcome follows on from long and extensive discussions between DELWP
and Bayside Council, together with the community and SFA, over the last 8
years.

SFA have met with Department of Environment, Land, Water, Planning
(DELWP) officers Sally Patterson and Cathi Greve on a number of occasions,
and last year met with Kelly Crosthwaite, Head of DELWP Port Phillip region.
We are grateful to DELWP and the coastal engineers: Andrew McCowan and
Cardno. (Note the Cardno engineering report is due for release soon.)
SFA is also extremely grateful for Bayside Council’s ongoing support on this
matter. We are blessed to have such a great Council!
As predicted to reoccur annually at this time of the year, the erosion of
Sandringham beaches since the construction in 2007 of the Southey Street
groyne is again ongoing and severe. Despite the beach-stability benefits this
groyne was supposed to have provided, we have continued to experience
erosion problems at the Southey and Tennyson Street beaches, as well as
adjacent to Royal Ave. This now-predictable beach and cliff erosion occurs in
February through April, due to net-loss (along-shore transport) of sand
towards the north with prevailing south-westerly winds and currents occurring
in Summer and Autumn. When a coincident strong wind or storm event occurs
in this period [causing strong wave action], then spot-locations immediately
northwards of both groynes can suffer acute sand loss both of beach width,
and sometimes also 1-3 metres of erosion can occur at the base of the cliffs
due to wave action.
Even without the strong wind or storm events, general prevailing sea breezes
in the Summer and Autumn cause sand transport towards the north, which is
subsequently trapped from returning by the breakwater of the Sandringham
Yacht Club, and hence sand and silt stays within the harbour. Every year we
lose about 2,000 cubic metres of sand material from the Sandringham beaches
by this process.
And so now in April, we are witnessing the peak of significant sand depletion
north of both rock groynes i.e., at the Royal Ave and Southey Street groynes.
These changes are evident in the photos below starting in February of this
year. As has occurred in previous years, sand depletion will continue until
winter (when the prevailing southerly sea-breezes cease), and while the sand is
depleted, the risk of damage to the base of our cliffs by strong wave action
events is high.
So far, we have not experienced any major storms this summer/autumn, but
the risk to the relatively more exposed cliffs is of concern.

Tennyson St beach 15th March 2016

Note tyre tracks on the beach - the beach cleaning truck cannot access the rest
of the beach past the rocky outcrop. Note walkers accessing the beach by
climbing over the rocky outcrop.
The minimal sand offers very little protection of the cliffs from wave action.
Tennyson St and Royal Ave beach erosion this year was evident from early
February onwards.

The photos below were taken on 16th February 2016:

Royal Ave beach north of the Royal Ave rock groyne 15th March 2016:

Beaumaris Bay Fossil site (BBFS) update
Nomination Submitted for National Heritage Listings
On behalf of the Beaumaris Bay Heritage Consortium, it is with great pride and
honour that the SFA have submitted a nomination to list the Beaumaris Bay for
its rich natural assets, recommending it for inclusion in the Australian
Government's National Heritage Listings.
Of special significance, the nomination highlights the Beaumaris Bay Fossil site,
as well as the geological, historical and artistic qualities of the surrounds, and
makes a very strong case for national-level, long term acknowledgement of the
Beaumaris Bay.
Beaumaris Bay Heritage Conservation Consortium
The consortium includes experts Professor John Long, Professor John
Buckeridge, Professor Tim Flannery, Professor Michael Archer, Dr Eric Bird and
many local environmental community groups.
Fossil finds at BBFS
BREAKING NEWS ! – FOSSIL FIND
On Thursday 21 April, Melbourne Museum held a special media event to
announce the recent discovery of the largest fossil tooth ever found in
Australia: From an extinct species of giant killer sperm whale – found at
Beaumaris Bay by local Melbourne man, Murray Orr. The following is an
extract from Museum Victoria’s Media Release, subsequently reported in
various print, radio, TV and electronic media:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/giant-beaumaris-tooth-reveals-monster-whale-stalked-ourseas/news-story/d61991da22dc111a1bc3b0e6ce9538ea
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/sci-tech/move-over-moby-dick-meet-melbournes-own-mega-whale20160421-gobhl6.html

And Also:
Ancient mollusc fossil found in Beaumaris cliffs
December 15, 2015, by Jon Andrews of Bayside Leader
The Aturia coxi, or chambered nautilus, was extracted on December 9 by
experts including Murray Orr, Marine Education Science and Community
Centre president Ray Lewis, Museum Victoria’s Dr Tom Darragh, and Professor
John Buckeridge from RMIT.

Prof Buckeridge said the intact mollusc, related to squid and octopus, was
about five to six million years old and lived in the waters of the once-larger
Port Phillip Bay. For full article click the following link:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-south/ancient-mollusc-fossil-found-in-beaumaris-cliffs/newsstory/b6b24330462b0f620d6b8d7d1900fc1f?sv=4afb3985ce1833e22085542121983303&utm_source=Herald%
20Sun&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GroupCeditorial&mid=1733905

Please email us your interesting fossil finds: [email protected]

Museum Victoria update on new fossil finds
Dr Erich Fitzgerald of Museum Victoria has recently reported to us about the
discovery of several periotic (ear) bones at the Beaumaris Bay, belonging to a
group of Baleen whales. Discoveries of fossilised remains from Baleen whales
have previously been known only from Early Miocene sediments in the
northern hemisphere. Their survival into the Latest Miocene-Earliest Pliocene,
in Australia is new and surprising, and it means a revision of our understanding
of the global distribution and evolution of Baleen whale fauna.
The SFA would like to say publically to Dr Erich Fitzgerald - we thoroughly
appreciate the tremendous work you and others are doing in recognition of
the fossil site, and in assisting the recent National Heritage submission. Initial
rewards of these efforts can be seen from the statement below, made to the
Legislative Council of Victorian Parliament recently by Sue Pennicuik:
Beaumaris Bay Fossil Site – statement by Ms PENNICUIK (Southern
Metropolitan)
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Environment, Climate Change
and Water, and relates to the Beaumaris Bay Fossil Site and the Beaumaris
Motor Yacht Squadron, which proposes to extend its existing site.
A look at the website shows that the project encompasses construction of a
rock breakwater wall; 120 floating marina berths; an extension of the outfall
drain within the breakwater to deep water; a waterfront boardwalk on the
south-west boundary; a three-lane boat ramp; a 78-berth ‘dry stack’ facility;
pump-out facilities; car and trailer parking; a new clubhouse and function
facility, including increasing the reclaimed area of seabed from 12 000 square
metres to almost 16 000 square metres.
This is of great concern to many people in the community, and to me. The
Beaumaris fossil deposits are recognised by palaeontologists worldwide as
vitally important to science. Beaumaris Bay provides unique evidence of the

impact of climate change on the evolution and extinction of marine
biodiversity, reveals the origins of Australia’s modern marine life and
represents a globally canonical site for understanding the evolution of sharks,
whales and penguins. The site establishes a timescale for the evolution of
Australia’s unique marsupial fauna. It is one of Australia’s most prolific fossil
deposits with Lovenia woodsii in abundant quantities.
Recent discoveries in 2015 include a species of whale formerly unknown to
science, bone from the beaked whale and a rare chambered nautilus shell.
Announcements of two other important fossil finds will be made soon. The site
has Australia’s only known co-occurrence of large land mammals with marine
fauna for this time period— 7 million years to 10 million years. Fossils found
include whales, dolphins, seals, penguins, sea birds including Pelagornis, a
pelican-like bird with teeth and a 7-metre wingspan, fish, sharks, including
megalodon sharks which are up to 15 metres in length, and marine
invertebrates.
Beaumaris Bay has also been a focus for artists and photographers for over 100
years, attracting artists from the Heidelberg School, particularly Tom Roberts,
Frederick McCubbin, Arthur Streeton, Clarice Beckett and others, and I am sure
people know all about the unique artistic heritage at that site. The Crown lease
to the boat club expires on 30 June 2018. The site is just around the corner from
the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, so the action I ask of the minister is that,
given the uniqueness of this site and its importance to the local and the
Victorian community, she not renew the lease in 2018 so that the Crown land
can be used as a science and public education precinct, in conjunction with the
museum, schools and universities, for the ongoing education of the Victorian
public and the world.
Coast to Coast Conference 2016:
You are invited to join keynote speakers Professor Tim Flannery, Dr Tundi
Agardy and Professor Edward Blakely, at the MCG in Melbourne from 29
August to 1 September 2016. Online registrations are now [right click onto
OPEN]: OPEN
As Australia's national coastal management conference, Coast to Coast 2016
provides an opportunity to share original research, new knowledge and
experience in coastal and marine planning and management, science, policy
and governance, and to raise the profile of marine and coastal environments
and their values.

Fluker Post research for monitoring of Sandringham beaches
DELWP, in conjunction with Bayside City Council, have installed two Fluker
Posts at the base of the Royal Avenue groyne, and on the Sims Street ramp.
Beach users are invited to take photos from these fixed points and send
through to the web link noted on the post - to monitor the beach profile
changes. See the below links for more information:
https://picasaweb.google.com/114676241519217510044/SAN1Sandringham
https://picasaweb.google.com/114676241519217510044/San2Sandringham
A Fluker Post allows passers-by to take a photo from the exact same
perspective on different days, which they can send to the Fluker Post Research
Project. Photos for each location are then arranged in chronological order and
stored in an online database. This allows the general public to participate in
the very important work of photographically documenting environmental
landscapes which are experiencing change over time, for various reasons. The
Sandringham Beach Fluker Posts are just two of many now installed nationally
– each for different reasons and in unique locations.
If you would like us to help you demonstrate how to use the Fluker Posts
please contact us at [email protected]
Or, for more information please view the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/fluker.post
See photos below.

Fluker Post SAN1 at the base of the Royal Avenue groyne

Brighton/Hampton Beach photographic update – completing the
groyne field
The following photograph was taken on 21st June 2015, during construction
works in Hampton/Brighton, near the end of South Road. It demonstrates the
two new, 80 metre rock groynes abutting the revetment wall.

Brighton/Hampton Beach south of Green Point, and located immediately
north of the northern-most groyne. Photo taken 5th March 2016
DELWP are aware of the changes to the beach from the newly constructed
rock groynes and we are confident the beach problem will be solved.

Bayside City Council update
Draft Sandringham Foreshore Masterplan
Discussions to date with stakeholders and Council consultants, Matt and Nelly
from Thomson Berrill Landscape Design, have taken place in preparation for
the Draft Sandringham Beach Foreshore Master Plan process.
Do you have any suggestions for changes to our beach? Let us know.
Report from the site walk: Sandringham Beach and Gardens Masterplan (held on 8 Mar at the lookout opposite Sandy Beach Centre)
The scope of the Sandringham Beach and Gardens Masterplan study area
extends from Abbott Street to Eliza Street, adjacent to Red Bluff. This section
of the foreshore is identified in the Bayside Open Space Strategy (2012)
primarily to provide for beach-based recreation, for a municipal and regional
catchment of the Victorian population.
The development of a master plan was identified as a priority in the Bayside
Coastal Management Plan (BCMP) 2014. The master plan is the next stage of
implementing recommendations arising from the BCMP, and other Council
policies, and will focus on council-managed areas of the foreshore. The master
plan aims to inform the Bayside Council’s capital works programs, including
funding applications and priorities for infrastructure renewal, replacement and
redevelopment over the next decade. The master plan will also be a key tool to
assist Council and other stakeholders in obtaining required coastal
management consent from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and
Planning (DWELP) for implementation of on-ground projects within the
precinct.
Meeting with key stakeholders to discuss major issues and opportunities to be
considered during development of the draft master plan is part of the initial
consultation. The Sandringham Life Saving Club (SLSC) is a key stakeholder
along with other local groups including the Sandringham Foreshore
Association, the Black Rock and Sandringham Conservation Association,
Friends of Native Wildlife, and DWELP. A comprehensive program of
consultation with local residents will also be completed once the initial draft
masterplan has been prepared.
Council has appointed Thompson Berrill Landscape Design (TBLD) in
association with AW Maritime Coastal Engineers, Alluvium Australia and Equal
Access, to assist with preparation of the master plan. The consultant team
have extensive experience in coastal design and management including

preparation and implementation of master plans and works, for high profile
coastal areas including the Lorne foreshore, Torquay foreshore and North and
South Head in Sydney. Locally within Bayside, they have assisted Council in the
recent redevelopment of Green Point and the Draft Sandringham Foreshore
Precinct Masterplan. Other previous works completed by this team within the
study area include removal of the old toilet block/kiosk, improvements to
beach access to the SLSC in 2005, and new lookouts at Sandringham Gardens
and Sim Street in 2014.
AGM for the Association of Bayside Municipalities (ABM)
On the 1st December 2015, committee members of the SFA were honoured to
attend the AGM for the Association of Bayside Municipalities (ABM).
Cr Felicity Frederico, outgoing president of the ABM, spoke on the 'Principles
for Protecting Port Phillip Bay and its Shoreline'. These principles, like that of
Hippocrates the founding father of Western Medicine, are based on 'Do No
Harm'.
Tammy Van Wisse was guest speaker for the evening, and gave an inspiring
talk about her amazing marathon swims all over the world. Tammy also
highlighted the importance of healthy waterways, for all to share – a topic
about which she is extremely passionate, and works tirelessly for.

From left: Vicki Karalis, Tammy Van Wisse, and Felicity Frederico

ABM’s recent work titled "Bay Blueprint Framework Report" [undertaken with
significant funding from the Victorian Government] has enabled ABM to
research, refine and develop many suggested improvements to Bay
management and resourcing, to better protect and improve the Bay over the
next 50-70 years.
Felicity's speech ('Principles for Protecting Port Phillip Bay and its Shoreline')
advocated that through management and oversight of the Victorian
Government, all efforts be made to include:
 Protect the environmental, social, economic, recreational, amenity and
cultural values of the Bay and ensure these values and the physical
shoreline condition of the Bay is protected now, and for future
generations;
 Prepare and publish a regular State of the bay report outlining the
current health, amenity and condition inclusive, but not limited to, water
quality, marine biodiversity and shoreline conditions;
 Undertake regular monitoring and reporting not exceeding every four
years, on the conditions and current health of the Bay reflected in the
State of the Bay report;
 Maintain all community based assets, existing public access and buffer
zones within Port of Melbourne land;
 Require the private operator of the Port of Melbourne to consult with
the Government and report to the community in relation to amenity and
environmental issues arising from the port development;
 Ensure maintenance dredging complies with all applicable regulations,
 And, prevent any capital dredging of the shipping channels or
widening/deepening of the Bay entrance.
SFA congratulate Felicity's leadership within the ABM to pioneer and
spearhead these important values to improve the health of the Bay and help
develop sets of principles to protect the Bay for all Victorians, and future
generations to enjoy.

Historical photos of our Bayside beaches
Historical photos of Hampton beaches
SANDY BEACH KIOSK HISTORIC PICTURE GALLERY of Hampton Beach
Have you managed to see the many historical photos of the
Sandringham/Hampton Beach south of the Sandringham Yacht club

breakwater? They are featured in the rear of the Sandy Beach HQ kiosk (up the
stairs at the back). Please pay the kiosk a visit!
Thank you to Mike Meyers and Bayside City Council for organising these
wonderful photos which can also be viewed on the Kiosk website:
http://sandybeachhq.com.au/
Many of the photos are useful as they feature the coastline and beach profiles
as they were, about a century ago.
You might also find this website useful for comparing the expanse of sand and
cliff face on the beaches in 1945 compared with present day:
http://1945.melbourne/
[Thank you to Garry Allen for providing us this useful link!]
Historical photos of Sandringham beaches and Beaumaris Bay
Acknowledgement and many thanks to the Sandringham & District Historical
Society for preserving these wonderful historical beach photos:
Sandringham beach 1910, postcard published by Soffa (local newsagent)
Note Red Bluff cliff at the distance and multiple beach houses extending to Red
Bluff cliff along the coastline.

Boxing Day, Sandringham beach 1908-9, by Soffa

Beaumaris Bay 1910 printed in Prussia

Cliffs of Beaumaris Bay (1) – The Rose Series, supplied by Chris Sutton

Cliffs of Beaumaris Bay (2) – The Rose Series, supplied by Chris Sutton

SFA Bayside Member Profile
Graeme Disney OAM - a valued and respected local resident
Photograph: 1st December 2015 at the Sandringham Yacht club for the
Association of Bayside Municipalities (ABM) Annual General Meeting.

My wife Dorothy and I have lived in Hampton all our lives and the beach and
the Bay have always been an integral part of our family life. As a child, I was
always fascinated by the beach and foreshore, and was drawn to Hampton Pier,
especially in the busy times when the professional fishermen arrived to unload
their catch. I joined Sandringham Yacht Club as a junior member – just in time
for the 1956 Olympic Games – and began sailing with friends. We bought our
own boat, a gaff-rigged ’couta boat’ named ‘Florence’, when the children were

small and she still serves three generations of our family well. ‘Florence’ is 82
years old and we have owned her for half of her life.
I have been involved with Sandringham Yacht Club in many roles. As my
children began sailing I became Cadet Officer, Chairman of the Off-The-Beach
committee, Principal of the Sailing School, served on General Committee, and
eventually became Vice Commodore. I am now a Life Member and serve as
Club Chaplain and Historian.
I was a member of many sub-committees for Sandringham Council and these
included planning, arts, history and conservation, particularly foreshore;
working groups, including Sandringham Harbour, Hampton Beach and HMVS
Cerberus, and also the Sandringham Foreshore Masterplan. I was a member of
Sandringham’s 70th and Victoria’s 150th Committees and chair of the
Bicentenary Community Committee in 1988. This continued when Val Tarrant
and I co-wrote ‘Bayside Reflections’, which proved to be very successful and
was reprinted twice. I was elected President of Sandringham & District
Historical Society when that body was formed, and was awarded Sandringham
Citizen of the Year in 1987. I stood for election to the newly formed Bayside
City Council and was the first mayor. I was appointed as council’s representative
to the Association of Bayside Municipalities, and was able to continue the
promotion of foreshore requirements, especially the renourishment of
Hampton Beach.
I was thrilled and honoured when the then Minister of Conservation the late
Marie Tehan appointed me to the Victorian Coastal Council, to represent
Victorian Local Government. I became chair of the Council's Planning &
Approvals sub-committee and was able to make a contribution to projects in
Port Phillip and Westernport, as well as the Surf Coast and Gippsland Lakes. I
was also appointed to the State Assessment Panels of 'Coast & Clean Seas' and
'Coast Care /Coast Action.'
In 2003 I was awarded a Centenary Medal and in 2009 an OAM “For service to
Local Government, local history, yachting and the church”. I count my blessings
that I live where I can see Hampton Beach and Port Phillip every day. There is
no place in the world that I would rather be!
Graeme Disney OAM

We hope you have enjoyed reading the summer-autumn edition of the SFA
Newsletter 2016.
Yours with kindness,
Dr Vicki Karalis, SFA President
SFA committee members:
Alison Horton, Vice-President, Perfusionist
Salva Crusca, Secretary, Mental Health worker
Craig Francis, Treasurer, IT expert
Ike Solomon, Engineer
Helen Gibson, Geologist & Editor assistant
Paul Hede, Architect
Adrienne Smith, Secretarial assistant, IT consultant
Cristian Silver, Editorial assistant

Free SFA Membership
The Sandringham Foreshore Association is a charitable not-for-profit
association. Membership is free. Our self-acclaimed role is to foster and
promote good natural conservation principles to Bayside foreshore
management. Our current focus is to assist public education by aligning
ourselves with scientific experts in fields of conservation and natural
environment, and to facilitate effective communication between community –
council and state governments – and established environmental science
publications and position statements.
The role of SFA is to care for and help protect our local beaches and cliffs, but
also to educate, raise awareness and preserve our local archaeological,
geological, cultural, indigenous and heritage sites such as the Beaumaris Bay
fossil site.
If you are interested in joining our free membership, to receive notices and our
Quarterly Newsletters – Please respond via our website
http://sandringhamforeshore.tumblr.com/MembershipForm