Sandringham Foreshore Association Newsletter

Winter 2016
SANDRINGHAM FORESHORE ASSOCIATION (SFA)
Founded January 2007
ABN 42947116512

A CHARITABLE NOT FOR PROFIT VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION

SFA
PO Box 52
Sandringham 3191
sandyforeshore@optusnet.com.au
Website: http://sandringhamforeshore.tumblr.com/
Patron of SFA: Professor Tim Flannery

From the president of SFA, Dr Vicki Karalis

Welcome everybody, to our winter newsletter for 2016

Update on erosion of the Sandringham beaches
Many of you who are regular walkers of the Bayside and Sandringham beaches would
be familiar with sand moving predominately to the north in summer-autumn, and to the
south in winter-spring due to prevailing wind changes. Now in winter the predominant
winds are northerly which means sand is now shifting to the southern ends of our
beaches. This means there are sectors of our beaches on the northern aspects that are
deprived of sand, leading to direct wave action on the base of the cliffs - causing
continued cliff erosion. We have witnessed these changes in the past, especially over
September months, but this year this pattern of erosion to the northern zones of beaches

is much more dramatic and has come sooner than usual. In the last 2-3 months, we
have witnessed at least 3-4 metres of loss of the cliff base at Tennyson St beach due to
direct wave action. We suspect the problem will continue into September 2016 assuming
continued northerly winds will prevail.
You may recall SFA are working closely with DELWP and we have achieved a $1 million
budget (allocated by the former Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Water,
Lisa Neville), to help provide effective protection of our foreshore and beaches from
erosion. This outcome follows from long and extensive discussions with DELWP and
Bayside Council, together with the community and SFA - discussions and consultation
sessions which have continued over the last 8 years and even prior to this time.
SFA are extremely grateful to DELWP and Bayside City Council. We highly commend
them both for their processes and actions to facilitate this outcome so far. Our
community meetings and discussions are continuing:
Community Event Announcement
Thursday 18 August 4-7pm at the Sandringham football club
This month we announce a Sandringham beach community meeting
The community meeting is being organised by DELWP and Bayside City Council, and
will be held locally to discuss options how the new budget could be best spent to
improve and sustain our beaches in Sandringham. The money will likely go towards
sand renourishment and a review of the size of the Southey St rock groyne. Works will
include professional assistance from coastal engineers, and a review of the current
modelling studies, in consultation with the community, to ensure long term positive
outcomes. Physical works are expected to occur over late summer, early in 2017.
Your opinion counts and we would value your attendance at this meeting. Please join the
open meeting at the Sandringham Football Club (end of Bridge Street on the
foreshore) on Thursday 18th August from 4 to 7 pm.
Dr Vicki Karalis, winter 2016
For those interested here is the engineering report for Sandringham beach:
http://delwp.vic.gov.au/parks-forests-and-crown-land/coasts,-bays-and-marine-areas/coastalprograms/beach-renourishment-program

The Official advertisement next page:

Media coverage of event:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-south/weatherbeaten-sandringham-beach-gets-cash-for-restorationworks/news-story/e923e55fff2035f7a8601f822635a99c

Recurrence of Tennyson St beach erosion

Erosion of Tennyson St beach also occurs around August - September every year due to
prevailing northerly winds [typical of this time of the year].
These photos demonstrate the erosion of the base of the cliffs at Tennyson St beach
at/near the ramp from wave action, which started June this year [earlier than usual]:

Tennyson St beach during the storm. Note waves crashing into the base of the
cliffs - 14th July 2016 [Dr Vicki Karalis]

Note cliff erosion after the storm - 16th July 2016 [Dr Vicki Karalis]

Photo taken on Tennyson St beach looking south - 23 July 2016 [John Amiet
Professional Photographer]

Photo taken on Tennyson St beach - 23 July 2016 [John Amiet Professional

Photographer]

Photo taken on Tennyson St beach - 23 July 2016 [John Amiet Professional

Photographer]

Tennyson St beach during the storm. Note waves crashing into the base of the
cliffs - 28th July 2016 [Dr Vicki Karalis]

The following day. Tennyson St beach after the storm

- 29th July 2016 [Dr Vicki Karalis]
Note: Any works proposed on the Sandringham beaches need to ensure there are no
associated negative impacts on our natural landscape and marine environment. A short
distance offshore from the beach is an extensive reef system that possibly few people
know about. In many ways this reef is similar to the one in the marine sanctuary at
Ricketts Point, though its structure is actually more rugged in some places, compared
with that at Ricketts Point. For example, the Sandringham reef comprises large boulders
and ledges offering significant habitat. In summary, our reef at Sandringham supports
thriving marine life and is clearly worthy of preservation.
The offshore reef in Sandringham is clearly visible on Google Earth as you can see in
the photo below:

Some SFA members have expressed their concern that any proposed works on
Tennyson St beach may disrupt the offshore reef system in Sandringham. DELWP have
been notified. They are aware of the reef system and have taken these concerns into
consideration especially with regard to the potential effects of pumping sand onto the
beach (sand renourishment). The firm aim is to prevent any disruption to the reef or
indeed damage of any kind. SFA believe that it is definitely within its charter to protect
marine life in the Sandringham region, as well as the onshore foreshore environment.
With such a florid marine life habituating the reef system, it is hardly surprising that a
blue ring octopus was found locally. See link to Herald Sun article December 2015:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/deadly-blueringed-octopus-spotted-atsandringham-beach/news-story/c5ba3ade3af8ee56a6aa6a78940f1aaa
Focus: Local marine enthusiast: David Reinhard (Photo 2016)
David Reinhard is a Bayside resident
who has been scuba diving for around
40 years and enjoys diving locally and
overseas. He is frequently found
diving at Ricketts Point, other Bayside
locations, and also in the southern Port
Phillip region. In recent years David
has combined his interest in
photography, with his passion for
diving and has developed a strong
interest in underwater photography.
Some of his magnificent photos from Victorian waters can be seen here:
http://tinyurl.com/underwatervictoria
He has also provided us with spectacular photos to demonstrate some of the abundant
marine life on the reef adjacent to the Sandringham beaches:
https://goo.gl/photos/ETXdS7LqwjCFdpmT9
Also, why not try these links to view David's amazing photos of our local marine life:
https://picasaweb.google.com/118038872344502304872/SimsStreetSandringhamReef1
9_03_2015
https://picasaweb.google.com/118038872344502304872/SimsStreetReefSandringham2
5_12_2014ChristmasDay#

Fluker Post research for monitoring of Sandringham beaches

DELWP, in conjunction with Bayside City Council, have installed two Fluker Posts: One
at the base of the Royal Avenue groyne, and another on the Sims Street ramp. Beach
visitors are invited to take photos from these fixed points and send their images to the
web-address noted on the post. This community-assisted monitoring system will develop
a valuable public archive of images to track temporal beach profile changes.
See the links below for more information of photos now already uploaded
[right click onto links]:
Royal Ave and Edward St beach photos: SAN1
Tennyson St beach photos: SAN2
Beaumaris Bay Fossil site (BBFS) update
Nomination Submitted for National Heritage Listings - still waiting on a decision
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. In making this nomination, Beaumaris Bay is now recommended 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. It also makes a very
strong case for national-level recognition, and long term acknowledgement of Beaumaris
Bay. Current status, as at August 2016, is that we are still awaiting a decision on the
outcome of the submissions success.
Here is the link for this listing:
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgibin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;search=place_id%3D106293%3Bkeyword_PD%3Don%3Bkeyword_SS
%3Don%3Bkeyword_PH%3Don%3Blatitude_1dir%3DS%3Blongitude_1dir%3DE%3Blongitude_2dir%3DE%
3Blatitude_2dir%3DS%3Bin_region%3Dpart;place_id=106293

Museum Victorias update on new fossil finds

On Tuesday 26th July, a group of fossil enthusiasts attended Melbourne Museum to see
first-hand, artefacts from a recent discovery at Beaumaris Bay including those from the
extinct species of giant killer sperm whale. The find of greatest interest, by local
Melbourne man Murray Orr, was a fossil-tooth which represents one of the largest-ever
found in Australia.

Murray Orr holds the fossil tooth of a giant killer sperm whale (far left). Dr Erich Fitzgerald stands next
to Murray (second from left). Others from left are: Dr Peter Prager, Dr Shirley Prager, Mrs Sandra Orr &
Dr Vicki Karalis. Photo taken by Mr Geoffrey Goode, Beaumaris Conservation Society Inc.

SFA would like to thank Dr Erich M. G. Fitzgerald, Senior Curator of Vertebrate

Palaeontology, Museum Victoria, for his dedication and scientific interest in the fossils
found at Beaumaris Bay. Erichs passion and depth of knowledge are highly valued in
our community his work and commitment inspires us all!

Dr. Erich Fitzgerald holding part of the skull of a Right whale found at Beaumaris Bay;
dated 5-6 million years old.

The visiting group of fossil enthusiasts also had the opportunity to view other discoveries
donated to Museum Victoria by local Beaumaris residents, and student volunteers.
Another notable exhibit was the inner ear bone of a beaked whale
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaked_whale). This important find was discovered by a
student palaeontologist. It is only the third of its kind ever found in Australia, and the firstever inner ear bone of a beaked whale found at Beaumaris. It has now been donated to
Museum Victoria.
Other significant finds at Beaumaris include several earbones possibly from Baleen
whales. These are special because they likely represent a species of whale rarely
identified elsewhere in the world. The bones are so unusual that Museum Victoria
havent yet been able to confirm the group of whales that the earbones belong tobut
for sure, they are not from any of the currently living whale species.
This is very exciting and globally significant, because until now palaeontologists
worldwide thought that all the major groups of whales existing at the time the Beaumaris
fossil beds formed (about 5 million years ago) where known. Clearly, that is now not the
case, and clues to the existence of another whale species living at this time is solely
from the discoveries at Beaumaris Bay.
And lastly, but not least - another wing bone of the Pelagornis (sea-bird) has recently
been donated to the museum, again a finding from Beaumaris Bay.
What makes Beaumaris Bay so special?
Fossil significance
The Beaumaris Bay fossil site has Australias only known co-occurrence of large land
mammals with marine fauna, for this time period ranging 5-6 million years old. Fossils
found include those from numerous marine invertebrates: whales, dolphins, seals,
penguins, and sea birds including Pelagornis - a pelican-like bird with teeth and a 7metre wingspan. Additionally found are fossils from fish and sharks, including megalodon
sharks which were up to 15 metres in length. The Beaumaris Bay fossil site is also one
of Australias most prolific fossil localities, with Lovenia woodsii found here in abundant
quantities.
Artistic significance
Beaumaris Bay has been a subject-focus for artists and photographers for over 100
years, attracting artists from the Heidelberg School, notably: Tom Roberts, Frederick
McCubbin, Arthur Streeton, Clarice Beckett, amongst many other prominent artists.
Geological significance, exposing layers of fossils
The Beaumaris Monocline is coincident with the Beaumaris Bay fossil site, and is the
geological feature responsible for exposing layers of fossils at elevations slightly above

sea-level. A monocline is a step-like, gently folded section of rock strata within a zone of
otherwise horizontal to gently-dipping sequences. The Beaumaris Monocline uniquely
occurs such that only the axis region of the fold rises above the sea floor in our bay. It is
this gentle warping feature which has exposed a small part of the 5-6 million year old
sediments.
So, you can imagine (from image below) that if only the yellow sedimentary layer
contains fossils, then it would be rare for fossils to be exposed above current sea-level.

Schematic illustration of a geological monocline, indicating how a limited part of a sedimentary layer
may be gently warped so as to cause it to be elevated above adjacent layers of the same sediments.
On this general figure, we have located the relative position of current sea-level similar to the case at
Beaumaris Bay. (Imaged Basement and Sedimentary basin fill are only schematic, and not necessarily
indicative of the geology at Beaumaris Bay.)

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
Coast to Coast 2016, Australia's national coastal management conference, provides an
opportunity to share original research, new knowledge and experience in coastal and
marine planning and management, science, policy and governance. This conference will
also serve to raise the profile of marine and coastal environments and their values.
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.

A member of SFA asked us if ecological burning of the foreshore scrubland is useful.

Here is Council's response:
"Ecological burning, the benefits of this are subject to the Ecological Vegetation Class
(EVC). My understanding is that the EVC(S) on the foreshore will not benefit from
ecological burning and may proliferate weed problems."
Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan - enhancing the health of the Bay
Public consultation for the new Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan will be
occurring in the coming months. The draft Plan outlines a vision to help enhance the
health of the Bay and will guide future actions on priority issues. Further information on
the plan, and how to provide feedback is available on the project website:
http://portphillip.delwp.vic.gov.au/healthofthebay

Historical photos of our Bayside beaches

Beaumaris Bay State Library 1910

ART EXHIBITION INCLUDES FAMOUS ARTIST CLARICE BECKETT PAINTINGS

EARLY 1900's OF BEAUMARIS BAY
See official advertisement next page of exhibition held at the Gallery
Brighton Town Hall
Cnr Carpenter & Wilson Streets
Brighton
Admission is free

Advertisement
Gallery @ BACC
The Ordinary Instant Exhibition Dont miss it !

A Sneak Preview of some of the exhibits

With permission from the artists Apologies for the poor reproduction

We hope you have enjoyed reading the winter-2016 edition of the SFA Newsletter
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 & Editorial 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