Mornington Peninsula beaches to be cleaned by hand for next 12 months

Mornington Shire Council is disappointed that investigations of beach cleaning at a handful of local beaches last year found the mechanical rake missed up to 60% of litter and sometimes broke plastic items into smaller pieces and reburied them.

Council has therefore decided that Mornington Peninsula beaches will be solely cleaned by hand for the next 12 months.

The 12-month trial will determine whether hand cleaning is more efficient, cost effective and better for the environment.

The preliminary investigation also found 85% of the material mechanically collected and taken for waste disposal was organic. This resulted in unnecessarily high waste disposal fees and a poorer environmental outcome.

Research shows there are significant environmental benefits to keeping seaweed where it belongs. The presence of seaweed and other organic matter on a beach is a sign of a thriving marine environment, providing vital food and shelter for animals such as shorebirds and other marine species.

Accumulated organic matter also helps stabilise eroding beaches by trapping sand and providing nutrients to coastal plants. Erosion is a big problem on the Peninsula and Council wants to see if hand cleaning will help tackle this issue.

Council last week considered the results of the preliminary investigation and voted to trial hand cleaning for 12 months on all Port Phillip Bay beaches along a 30km stretch from Portsea to Mount Eliza.

Mayor Simon Brooks notes “we know how much our community values the Peninsula’s beaches. Given how important our beaches are for residents and visitors, we really want to know whether there is a better way to clean them.

“It was disappointing to find mechanical raking may miss up to 60% of rubbish items. More concerning still are indications that raking may result in plastic items being broken into smaller pieces, making it even less likely they would be picked up by the rake in the future.

“This trial will give us much better localised information on the types of rubbish left on our beaches, where it comes from and where the peak periods and hot spots are. This will enable us to refine our beach cleaning program to ensure it’s as efficient and effective as possible. We believe this is the first trial of its kind for local government.

“Of course cleaning is only one part of the equation; the other is encouraging people not to leave their rubbish on the beach in the first place.

“I can’t talk about beach cleaning without mentioning our outstanding volunteers and Beach Patrol groups. Across the Peninsula, volunteers play a major role in keeping our beaches clean. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who does their bit to look after our precious beaches. Whether they are a part of an organised group, take part in clean up events or just pick up rubbish when they see it. Every bit helps and makes a difference to our beaches and our marine animals.”

The trial will run from 1st July 2024, during which time Council will be seeking feedback from residents and visitors. This will help in understanding how well the new cleaning program is working and whether to make the switch permanent.

For more information visit: mornpen.vic.gov.au/beachcleaning