Hobsons Bay Mayor Tony Briffa wants the State Government to fund upgrades to Altona Beach. 85326 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By ALESHA CAPONE
THE mayor of Hobsons Bay is worried residents could have to wave goodbye to a section of Altona Beach if the foreshore continues to deteriorate.
Councillor Tony Briffa has written to several MPs and asked them to advocate for the State Government to fund upgrades to the shoreline between Romawi and Maidstone streets.
Cr Briffa said he was grateful to the previous government for funding improvements to a different kilometre-long section of the beach a few years ago.
“Unfortunately, erosion and time has seen the beach west of that area deteriorate so substantially that there is almost no beach in the area west of Romawi St, Altona,” Cr Briffa said.
“The area between Bayview and Romawi streets has been upgraded, but now we need the rest of the beach upgraded.
“The whole area is popular and we deserve a quality beach just like other parts of Melbourne.”
Cr Briffa said he would like the government to provide “at least a 20-metre beach along the foreshore between Romawi St and Apex Park”.
“Our community values the beach, and there would be an impact on us if the beach continues to erode,” he said.
Cr Briffa said Altona MP Jill Hennessy and Western Region MPs Andrew Elsbury and Martin Pakula have responded to his letter about the beach.
Western Metropolitan Region MP Bernie Finn said he would continue to raise the matter with other politicians who could help to improve the beach.
Fellow Western Metropolitan Region MP Colleen Hartland said she was keen to attend a briefing on the state of the beach.
