Photo

courtesy John Amiet

Sandringham Foreshore Association Newsletter

- Winter 2017

SANDRINGHAM FORESHORE ASSOCIATION (SFA)

Founded January 2007

ABN 42947116512

A CHARITABLE NOT FOR PROFIT VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION

SFA , PO Box 52 Sandringham 3191

Email: sandyforeshore@optusnet.com.au
Website: http://sandringhamforeshore.tumblr.com/
Patron of SFA: Professor Tim Flannery, former resident of Sandringham and Australian of the Year 2007

"We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the waters and lands on which we live and work,
and pay our respects to the Elders, past and present

From the president of SFA,

Dr Vicki Karalis AM

Breaking News Bayside City Council

votes unanimously to move towards
banning single-use plastic bags

Following a recent decision by the Association of Bayside Municipalities to develop a

position statement supporting a ban on free single-use plastic bags, Bayside city council will
now seek State Government support to go ahead with implementing the ban in cooperation
with other organisations and groups.

A huge win for the foreshore and bay environments!

Read on later in this issue for other stories about plastic pollutants in our water ways
Beaumaris Bay fossil site update
Enjoy this excellent video of the killer sperm whale tooth found recently by Mr Murray Orr at
Beaumaris Bay and why it is significant in explaining their history relative to other similar finds in
Peru!

Prehistoric Moby Dick?

Peru and now millions years later found in Beaumaris!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbPyDVA_TMs

Front page of the Bayside Leader May 23 2017 featuring the special fossil find:

Updating our Ministers on the issues facing our National Treasure at Beaumaris Bay
Below is a photo of Minister Tim Wilson MP Goldstein [Bayside] holding the replica killer sperm
whale tooth as seen on the front page of the Leader newspaper, and in the related story in video-
media (Link above). Local environmental representatives were privileged to chat with Minister
Wilson on a range of local issues including the international importance of the fossil locality at
Beaumaris Bay, and general concerns relating to the environmental health of Port Phillip Bay.

"Urban Sanctuary" - a textbook of fossils found at Beaumaris Bay

Thanks to co-authors Professor John Buckeridge and Fearghus McSweeney, and to Mr Ray Lewis
OAM of Greypath Productions for publishing this wonderfully informative textbook on the local
fossils found at Beaumaris Bay.

"Urban Sanctuary"[see illustrated cover next page] is available at the Beaumaris bookstore in the
Concourse, for $25 and you can also download a free electronic copy of the book at:

http://www.iubs.org/publi/otherpubli.html
Sandringham foreshore coastal walk and talk held on the 3rd June 2017

On Saturday 3rd June, we were blessed with fine weather and a great turn out of nearly 30 people
for a fascinating guided Walk & Talk led by Dr Vicki Karalis of the Sandringham Foreshore
Association. Delegates visited the Sandringham coastline near the Sims Street car park, and heard
how our beaches and landscape have formed over millions of years, about the trends and impacts of
moving sand along our foreshore, about the nature and occurrence of local geology, issues of coastal
erosion; Baysides living museums of local fossils, and much more. The group was clearly keen to
discuss and learn more, as many excellent questions and break-out discussions ensued.

Big thanks to Alison Horton for taking the following photos at the Walk & Talk event:
The Walk & Talk group on Sandringham foreshore, 3rd June 2017 [Dr Vicki Karalis
leading, centre in yellow]

Helen Gibson SFA committee member and geologist [in orange], helped with the
enthusiastic crowd, answering questions about the geology and history of our cliffs
The grandeur and beauty of our weathered cliffs [Red Bluff Sandstone of late
Pliocene age equal to ~2.5 to 3.5 million years old]

Closer inspection of trace fossils in the older and more iron-stained Tertiary geology
beneath, called the Beaumaris Sandstone:
An eroding Aboriginal midden at the cliff-top in Red Bluff Sandstone in
Sandringham. Can you spot the ashes and broken shells of the midden (left of the tree)?
Kiwi visitor carvings in sandstone, in Sandringham - about 100 years old

Fossilised burrows of a ~5 million year old Thalassinidean Lobster: Ophiomorpha

Beaumarisensis ISP. NOV. commonly found in Beaumaris Sandstone Reference: Ter, P.C.
& Buckeridge, J.St. J.S., 2012, Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 124(3):223-231

Note the fossilised burrows are imprinted within iron rich mineral-replacement; photo
taken in Sandringham by Vicki Karalis
Petrified tree trunk lithified in Beaumaris Sandstone, located on Sandringham beach.

Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron EES update:

You will find more information about the proposal here: https://www.bmys.com.au/club-marina-
news/

Do you object to the Marina development and protect the Beaumaris Fossil site?

You can sign the Petition here: http://www.nobeaumarismarina.com/

TANGAROA BLUE NEWSLETTER - re-printed from: Australian Marine Debris Initiative

http://www.tangaroablue.org/

With the increased sharing of information through social media, it has become obvious that marine
debris and ocean pollution is a gigantic problem. An overwhelming 8 million pieces of plastic litter
per day enter the ocean! (Jamback et al, 2015). Individually thinking about tackling this enormous
plastic epidemic may seem too overwhelming; however, making the smallest changes to our daily
lives, together, we can contribute significantly towards reducing this plastic dilemma.

An easy and effective way to make a tremendous difference in our community is to simply start by
looking at the plastic situation in our backyards, our own Port Phillip Bay. Lets consider some fast
facts: As a result of our wonderful volunteers helping with 100s of clean-ups over the past decade,
from our AMDI Database (2004 2014), we found that the top 8 marine plastics that enter our bays
include: plastic fragments, plastic lids, cigarette butts, plastic bottles, food packaging, plastic bags
(degraded pieces), and fishing line. With this knowledge, we can each make a significant difference
to help reduce this plastic pollution.

Some of the basic strategies that Victorians can implement into their
daily lives to reduce plastic waste are as easy as changing
consumption habits like: bringing reusable shopping bags to the
supermarket, use a stainless steel flask instead of plastic bottles, buy
and store food jars, use real plates and cutlery for picnics, choose
microbead-free skin care products, buy recycled and reusable office
supplies such as durable backpacks and refillable pens, compost to
use fewer rubbish bags and reduce methane production, bring a
reusable lunch box and even using scrap paper as a note book. Yarra River
Remember that any litter that someone throws on the ground can
end up in our waterways, so making that little extra effort like: recycling as much as you can,
disposing of cigarette butts properly, taking your rubbish with you if nearby bin containers are
overflowing and using the take3forthesea motto, meaning pick up at least three pieces of rubbish
when you go for a walk on the beach, in the park, in your neighbourhood or along waterways.

And finally, get involved by spreading the word about marine debris to
your friends, family, and social media. You can organise a beach clean-
up or join organisations such as Tangaroa Blue, Beach Patrol, Port
Phillip EcoCentre to name a few, who conduct regular clean-ups, or
even donate to these organisations so they can continue to work with
Plastic Resin Pellets, St Kilda the councils to help reduce the plastic epidemic surrounding our bays.
Also, you can help by supporting the introduction of the container deposit scheme in Victoria. This
has been a very successfully tactic in the Northern Territory, where over 35 million containers were
returned in the first year of the container refund system. Contributing to one or many of these
initiatives, you will significantly help keep our Port Phillip Bay clean of marine debris, which will
markedly help reduce the 8 billion tons of plastic litter entering our oceans each year (Jambeck
2015).

The Tangaroa Blue Team

Science 13 Feb 2015:

Vol. 347, Issue 6223, pp. 768-771
DOI: 10.1126/science.1260352
One local resident at work SFA thank you for doing far, far more than your share!
Local resident Rick Hoskin collects rubbish about 5 days per week, most weeks of the year - from
Beaumaris bay and its surrounds. Newsletter editor Helen Gibson met Ric by chance on the beach in
March this year. He had just finish his usual daily collection, and was preparing to photograph it, -
just for documentation purposes. Ric is very concerned for the health of our beach environment, and
here are some of his tips for preventing all of this from entering the bay:

Crush all of your recycling items

Take responsibility to ensure your private recycling bins do not overflow
Do not add more rubbish to an overflowing public bin !

What about take-away coffee cups and their plastic lids?

~ Say no thanks! ~ Have coffee in china mugs at the cafe instead ~ Bring your own mug ~

Congratulations to the Beach House Caf downstairs at Half Moon Bay they offer 50 cent OFF
each coffee if you bring your own mug. SFA applaud this initiative to reduce rubbish & consumption
Become a volunteer!
See this beautiful finish to a track along our coastal scrub at the top of the Black Rock cliffs

Well done to City Link [contractors for Bayside City Council] on maintaining our natural coastal paths
and revegetating the cliffs. Revegetation of the cliffs helps to stabilise them and reduces the risk of
erosion. So please help at any working bees in Bayside area such as BRASCA. Contact:
https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/community-directory/brasca-black-rock-sandringham-conservation-
association
Half Moon Bay - birds resting on the reef

Mr Ray Lewis OAM has produced another book to help us identify local birds. Using the book we
were able to identify the birds above at Half Moon Bay. They include: Pelicans, Cormorants, Sea
gulls, Pacific gulls and lots of Greater crested terns!!

This book is also available at the Beaumaris bookstore for purchase.

Bay Shellfish Reef Restoration Project update

The dust has settled (or sand) on our restoration works for now, so we thought it timely to provide a
quick Port Phillip Bay Shellfish Reef Restoration Project update and invite to our next Information
Session.
The first half of the year was very busy and this new Stage II Project Video showcases what has been
achieved by the partners, supporters and volunteer hard yards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vIhYd9WsSc.

The Project has garnered a lot of media attention, with the shell recycling featuring on ABCs War on
Waste series http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-18/war-on-waste-recycling-shells-from-your-
plate/8533652
and in-water works in The Age http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/victorias-only-native-oysters-to-
make-their-comeback-to-clean-bay-20170406-gvf5al.html - to highlight a couple.

For a detailed update of how the Project is tracking, upcoming volunteer opportunities and hearing
about other restoration initiatives, please join us at the next the next Information Session:

Where: The Geelong Corporate Centre, Deakin's Geelong Waterfront Campus, 4th Floor Sally
Walker Building entrance on Cunningham Street
The Geelong Corporate Centre (see reception for room details on the day). Directions & Parking
https://www.deakin.edu.au/locations/deakin-corporate-centres/geelong-corporate-centre

- plus close to Geelong Railway Station.

When: 14.00 to 16.00, Friday July 28

What: Port Phillip Bay Shellfish Reef Restoration Project update by Simon Branigan (TNC)
and Ben Cleveland (University of Melbourne)

Living Shorelines Project Update Ramblers Road, Bellarine Peninsula by Ralph Roob (City of
Greater Geelong & University of Melbourne)

Q&A

Please RSVP is essential: to simon.branigan@tnc.org by July 19th

Environment, Land, Water Planning (DELWP) update on:

Black Rock revetment wall promenade to reinforce it from further wave attacks during storms

The consultation was held on 3rd June 2017 at the Sandringham Football Club

The draft coastal processes study for the revetment design has been submitted to DELWP for review.
A heritage assessment of the coastal zone from Central Avenue to Balcombe Rd is underway - the
archaeologist is seeking early photographs of the bluestone seawall and promenade under
construction, so if you have or know of, historical photographs in local collections please contact
Cass Philippou at DELWP on 03 9210 9401 or cass.philippou@delwp.vic.gov.au
Could the proposed works impact the local reef system and marine life?

SFA and Marine Care Ricketts Point representatives met with DELWP on site and expressed our
concerns the large revetment wall may negatively impact the adjacent Marine sanctuary, local reef
system and sea grasses. We are pleased DEWLP is to commission a marine ecological impact study
and we will keep you posted of the results of this report soon.

Also representatives requested that the proposed works do not remove some of the top plates
bearing "carved" inscriptions dated at the time of the building of the original promenade.

Dr Eric Bird is a coastal geomorphologist expert; we are blessed he lives in Bayside.

SFA also sought Erics opinion on the proposed reinforcement of the sea wall:

Thank you for your e-mail. Some comments regarding the proposed elaboration and extension of
the sea wall at Black Rock:

1. The existing sea wall was built in the late 1930s in front of cliffs. When it was first built there
was a beach in front of it, but this has been much reduced, primarily because of wave
reflection scour from the sea wall each winter.
2. The seasonal pattern of longshore sand drift still builds up a protective beach in front of this
sea wall each year (October to March), although it is much less extensive than it was a few
years ago. This protection is lost as the sand drifts away northward each winter, which is
when storms have damaged the sea wall in recent years.
3. The proposed revetment would give additional protection to the existing sea wall, but it is
not clear whether a beach would form in front of it during the summer, or how far south this
would extend.
4. Extension of a revetment northward past the Life Saving Club would be followed by
reduction of the existing beach (which is at present still quite wide and relatively stable),
much in the same way that the previous beach was reduced after the present sea wall was
built. If the DELWP proposals are implemented the long-term future of the Black Rock coast
is to be lined by an artificial structure fronted by little, if any, beach.
5. If the beach between Quiet Corner and Black Rock Point had been maintained by artificial
replenishment (like the beaches in Brighton/Hampton and to some extent in
Sandringham/Red Bluff) there would be no need for the building of an additional revetment,
still less its extension northward.

Dr Eric Charles Frederick Bird

http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35980844
Historical photos of Black Rock beach

Views taken during gale conditions on November 15th, [sometime in the late 1930s] showing sea
beating against new sea wall at Third Street during a storm.

Image supplied by DELWP

Historical photos of the seawall built in 1937. See photos attached including of
newspaper clippings. Photos and images supplied by the Sandringham Historical
Society of the construction of the sea wall:
Notes on the Black Rock Revetment Sandringham & District Historical Society

The sea-wall was constructed in part using the bluestone blocks which were originally
forming part of the Old Melbourne Gaol.

When a criminal was executed (hung) they were buried within the gaol but were not given
the privilege of a headstone. The bluestone block in the Old Melbourne Gaol wall was
inscribed with their initials and the date of execution. When the Old Melbourne Gaol wall
was demolished the blocks were stored and subsequently used for the sea-wall.

Graeme Disney has spent extensive hours researching on this topic. He will be our guest
speaker at our next general meeting on the 2nd July at 2.00pm.

One of our other volunteers, Jan Withers, has documented the details of the crimes for each
of the criminals whose burial markers (stones) that have been located. They are 2 at Black
Rock (Vic Heritage H7922-0481 with no further details) and one adjacent Wellington Street
Brighton (H7822-2304 with no details). We have this information should it be required. The
other Vic Heritage listing is fully documented (VHR-H2206, Beach Rd opposite New Street
Brighton with details of 6 individuals.)

After discussion at the committee meeting, we have the following concerns:

Stage one of the revetment is for the southern section at Black Rock. Although there
are no identified blocks in this area it does not rule out the possibility of some being
located there. If the area is covered, it makes it virtually impossible for future
generations to explore the wall for more blocks. Would it be possible for the wall to
be dismantled prior to the construction of the proposed changes?
If the revetment continues into the northern section (Stage 2) is there a plan in place
for the two existing heritage listed burial markers, and could the scope of the project
be included to investigate this part of the sea wall also?

Philippa Johnstone (President)

Ray Nilsson (Hon Treasurer)
Sandringham & District Historical Society Inc
sandringhamhistorical@gmail.com
 Sorry !

SFA apologises for the late printing of this advertisement, and suggests this
new booklet may now be available by enquiring at the historical society

EVENT HELD BY THE

SANDRINGHAM AND DISTRICT
HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC.

At: 6 Waltham Street, Sandringham

Contact: Telephone (03) 9597 0985

www.sandringhamhistorical.org.au

sandringhamhistorical@gmail.com

Sunday, 2nd July, 2017 at 2.00 pm

Sandringham Stories

We have pleasure to announce that our newest publication will be

officially launched by

Mr Graeme Disney OAM

The booklet is a series of small stories, mostly written by Janet Larson

as featured in the Sandringham Neighbourhood Watch magazine.

Copies available on the day - $15.00

- Gold Coin Donation

- Visitors and Members welcome

Half Moon Bay pier damaged by recent storms will soon be restored:
The natural wonders of Bayside
- SFA welcomes you to submit your photos and tell us what inspired you to take them

Dr Susan Carden, local Bayside resident supplied the beautiful photo below of dew on a
silver gull's feather!

"Dew on a silver gull's feather on Fossil Beach.

It is a macroshot taken one morning on Fossil Beach, Beaumaris."
Dr Susan Carden and I were fortunate to visit Mud Island in March 2017 for some bird
watching. It is a breeding ground for an abundant marine bird life:

Nests of Straw-necked ibis and some belong to the Australian white ibis:
 Photo of Dr Susan Carden playful on the beach on her day off after hours!

Community announcements

A Victorian Coastal Forum November 2017. We want to build a strong and aligned view for the future protection
and management of the central coast. The CCB is currently exploring, with the Australian Coastal Society, hosting a
two-day forum in November 2017. We are also working with the VCC on integrating this with the 2017 Victorian
Coastal Awards Night. We are seeking your views on what you would like to gain from such an event including,
possible key note speakers, locations and formats for the sessions, etc. To participate in the survey please follow the
link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/proposedvictoriancoastalforum

New Marine and Coastal Act. The CCB participated in a Ministerial Roundtable with the Minister for Energy,
Environment and Climate Change Lily DAmbrosio, in early March. The CCB position is consistent with that
expressed by other stakeholders at the meeting. The proposals do not go far enough to elevate the priority of the
coast and its major challenges of population growth, adaptation to coastal processes and climate change,
management and funding. There is now an intent to have both new legislation and a non-legislative reform program.
A summary of all the submissions received on the Consultation Paper appears at
https://www.coastsandmarine.vic.gov.au/marine-and-coastal-act

The Coast is a community priority. A recent Mornington Peninsula Shire resident survey reported that beaches,
coastline natural parks and rural landscapes were the most liked elements of living along the coast in fact they were
mentioned three times more than any other factor!

New statewide coastal protection assets program. The CCB and DELWP hosted information sessions in Torquay,
St Kilda and Hastings in February about the $15 million Coastal Protection Assets Program, to upgrade seawalls,
revetments and groynes. The four-year program targets priority protection works.

It also aims to develop a statewide database to help inform condition and risk assessment that prioritises
infrastructure protection projects. The database will be interoperable with other land manager systems to promote
better co-ordination and management outcomes. Consideration is also being given to how community knowledge,
expertise and needs can help inform the database. The project will support co investment partnerships to fund
maintenance works where there are others who benefit from the coastal protection structures. Next steps include
developing guidelines for the program and selecting projects to commence this financial year. For updates visit the
CCB website ccb.vic.gov.au to see whats new.
The Port Phillip Bay Fund of $10m aims to support projects that address local and regional priorities to protect the
health of the Bay and bay catchment area. Applications for grants closed in February and they are currently being
assessed.

Port Phillip Environmental Management Plan. Final comments on the draft Plan were due in February this year.
They will be used to inform the final plan due in mid-2017.

State of the Bays Report was released in December 2016 and is available at http://www.ces.vic.gov.au/sotb

ABM and PPWCMA Day on the Bay. CCB Chair, Ross Kilborn was invited aboard the Pelican in late February as
part of the induction on coastal matters for newly elected councillors. It was a great way to elevate their
understanding of the complexities of coastal management.

CCB Meeting at Frankston The CCB February meeting was at Frankston and Board members benefited from an
enhanced understanding of the PPWCMA, which included an inspection of the foreshore relevant to the City of
Frankstons recent Coastal Management Plan. Special thanks to the staff of both organisations for sharing their
knowledge and insights with us.

Got something to say to the Central Coast Board? Then simply reply to this email
(admin@ccb.vic.gov.au). We appreciate any feedback, including the usefulness and value of this newsletter.

Community announcements

Photographic Exhibition of Bayside gardens

Our gardens: our refuge is an exhibition of photographs and stories about people's gardens,
revealing the importance of their garden. The exhibition will be launched at the
Atrium, Bayside City Council Corporate Centre in Sandringham, before touring Bayside
Libraries:

Opening event Bayside City Council 6-8pm

Wednesday 12 July 2017
Touring to: Beaumaris Library on 16 August- 13 September 2017, and
Brighton Library on 20 September - 18 October 2017
PHOTO COMPETITION
Ocean Conservancy's annual Marine Wildlife and Seascape Photo Contest is almost here, and we
want to sea your ocean photos!
Do you possess a hidden talent for ocean photography? Have some really great photographs from
your last beach vacation? Get ready, because the contest begins June 26. This year we have five
fabulous categories you can enter:
Seascapes, Human Impact, Underwater Scenes, Wildlife and Humor.

https://oceanconservancy.org/2017-marine-wildlife-seascape-photo-contest/

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/photocontest

https://donate.oceanconservancy.org/page/8808/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=17WAXAWXXX
Joyful moments at Sandringham beach
The Southey St groyne will soon be modified to be the same length and height as the Royal
Ave groyne. It will still create erosion to the north of the groyne, but we hope it will be a lot
less significant.
Below is a photo of Stephen and Sue Burrow with their playful dog Maggie who just
won't let go of the stick and on the Southey St rock groyne - this photo gives you an idea
of the colossal height of the groyne!
We hope you have enjoyed reading the winter 2017 edition of the SFA Newsletter!

Yours with kindness,

Dr Vicki Karalis AM,

SFA President

SFA committee members:

Alison Horton, Vice-President & Public Officer; Perfusionist

Salva Crusca, Secretary, Mental health worker
Craig Francis, Treasurer, IT expert
Ike Solomon, Engineer
Helen Gibson, Geologist & Editorial assistant
Paul Hede, Architect
Trevor Turner, IT
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