Southern Peninsula
Features inside CLASSIFIEDS PAGES 38–39 SOUTHERN PENINSULA SCOREBOARD PAGES 40–41 MOTORING PAGES 42–43
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11 July – 24 July 2013
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Mystical performance: Yamba Konrad Ross led a traditional dance with father and son, both named Andrew Travis, during NAIDOC Week activities at Peninsula Hot Springs near Rye. Steaming water provided an evocative setting for their performance. See page 4. Picture: Claire Takacs
Dredging caused beach loss SUNDAY 28TH JULY
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into Port Phillip from Bass Strait because of dredging was the real culprit for the devastating erosion of the beach either side of Portsea pier. The report, Review of Wave Transformation Processes Through Port Phillip Heads, says dredging, also known formally as the channel deepening project (CDP), created channels
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of the Environmental Monitor (OEM) – set up by the Labor government to oversee the 2008-09 dredging project – and the Port of Melbourne blamed natural causes such as storms, higher sea levels and natural erosion. But environmental company Water Technologies of Notting Hill has concluded that increased swell coming
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By Mike Hast DESTRUCTION of Portsea’s iconic front beach has been linked to dredging of Port Phillip Heads in 2008. Two reports commissioned by the state government reveal what the government and Port of Melbourne Corporation have denied for four years. The government through its Office
that allowed larger and more powerful waves to sweep into the beach. After receiving the report, the government through its Department of Environment and Primary Industries in March asked the CSIRO to review all consultants’ reports that had led the OEM to claim dredging was not the cause of Portsea erosion.
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The CSIRO review included analysing the Water Technologies report, which was commissioned after pressure from Nepean Ratepayers Association, including its president Colin Watson, as well as Cr Tim Rodgers and Portsea residents such as millionaire Portsea Hotel owner Chris Morris.
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