From Dr Vicki Karalis AM, President

The Health of Port Phillip Bay & water pollution

Proud to have recently lectured alongside Rob Gell AM as experts on the Health of Port
Phillip Bay, and discuss the risks of pollution from various sources Eg the Yarra river plume,
stormwater drainage, sewerage outlet, etc. I used to watch Rob presenting the weather
report on National 9 News & later Channel 7 news, and later learnt he is also a
geomorphologist! Rob was one of the first people to visit Sandringham beach in 2007 when
we witnessed the beach drastically erode overnight after a rock groyne was constructed.
He is such a generous & caring person who is always willing to help our environment.
Thank you Rob!

Jet Skis - noise pollution and risk to humans & marine life
SFA and a number of key stakeholders of Port Phillip Bay are concerned about the rapid
rise in numbers of Jet Skis in the Bay and along our shoreline. Please contact us directly if
you can assist with our Jet Ski campaign on this issue: sandyforeshore@optusnet.com.au
We believe changes are urgently required to Maritime Boating legislation to distinguish
Personal Water Crafts (PWC) or jet skis, from Recreational Boating.
Despite enormous efforts by authorities, we continue to experience safety and
environmental impacts with recreational jet skiers in the Bay. Affected Bay users include
swimmers, snorkellers, divers, recreational fishers, and non-motorised craft users of:
yachts, stand-up paddle-boarder, sea kayaks, windsurfers, sea kites, surf skis etc.
Recreational jet skis have been responsible for injuries and death in Victoria, and
worldwide. With the rapid rise of numbers of jet skis in Port Phillip Bay & along swimming
beaches, more injuries are likely. Many recreational users of our beaches are fearful to
enter the water when jet skis are present. The loud noise pollution, and air and water
pollution they generate disrupt the quietness of beaches, and affect the air and water
quality. They are also harmful to marine life such as dolphins, whales, and seals especially
those sensitive to noise. Watch Professor Simpson, a marine Biologist, talk about how noisy
vessels like Jet Skis impact marine life, here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8XxAfGBcOo
and here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POITH02VVrw

The coming state elections are a great opportunity to talk to all the candidates to express
our concerns about the Health of the Bay and also Climate change, which we know causes
environmental and human harm, and with sea level rise and storm surges accelerate
erosion of our beaches and cliffs!

We wish all the candidates all the best in the coming elections.
 Port Phillip Bay has suffered severe water pollution with the recent storms and wave
action dumping litter, particularly plastics, and spreading a range of chemical pollutants
& debris from the Yarra River plume & storm water drainpipes. The water quality has
been so poor, the EPA have issued warnings about not swimming in the bay.
What effect would the poor water quality have on the marine life too?

Stretching across Brighton, Hampton, Sandringham, Black Rock and Beaumaris,

Bayside’s 17 kilometres of coastline is only about 20 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD.
Check out the live EPA Beach Report for water quality on Bayside beaches.

Below are recent images of the Bayside foreshore demonstrating poor water quality and
dumping of rubbish on the Bayside beaches from stormwater drainpipes and the Yarra River
plume into Port Phillip Bay. Note the extensive litter especially plastics, intertwined in
seaweed that are brought in by the wave action with the storms!!
A good aerial photo of the Bay shows the Yarra River plume with heavy rains hitting the
Bayside beaches. Cleaning our beaches needs extensive education of the wider community,
including discarding litter appropriately in the Melbourne city area. Local Bayside residents
spend countless hours on a daily basis picking up the rubbish especially after storms and
heavy rains.
 A special invitation from the Royal Society of Victoria, Geography Victoria
& the Association of Bayside Municipalities

EXPLORE MELBOURNE’S DYNAMIC COASTLINE

Saturday 12 November
10.00am-3.00pm
Cost $15 per person - see further details below

Port Phillip is a wonderland of coastal geomorphology, right on Melbourne’s doorstep!

Join our presenters to explore the dynamic nature of the coast and marine environment –
looking at evidence of historical changes on the coast, the geological landscapes that shape
our foreshores and the bay, the impacts of climate change, storms and sea level rise on the
marine and coastal environment, and more.......
* Rob Gell AM - RSV President and coastal geomorphologist
* Professor David Kennedy - fellow coastal geomorphologist (Office for Environmental
Programs, University of Melbourne)
* Dr Rebecca Morris - marine scientist (National Centre for Coasts and Climate, University of
Melbourne)
* Dr James Driscoll - geologist (Assistant Lecturer, Monash University) …

Our presenters will share the emerging science and practices changing the way the Bay is
monitored and managed. This includes the use of cutting-edge technology, engaging citizen
science and the use of nature-based methods of coastal protection.

• There will be some walking (approximately 2 km).

• Street parking is available at Rickett’s Point (fees apply).
• Lunch will be at the picnic tables at Rickett’s Point – BYO or feel free to purchase from
the Rickett’s Point Beachside Café.
• The afternoon will be spent at the beach/cliffs opposite Edward St, Sandringham
(street parking available).

Maps, specific information for the day and fieldtrip notes will be provided following
registration.
COST: $15.00 plus a small booking fee.
REGISTER HERE
BOOK EARLY - places are limited.
 Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary
Learn How You Can Protect Bayside's Greatest Marine Treasures

A free event for the whole community - young and old

An event organised by Marine Care Ricketts Point

Date: 12 November 2022

Time: 10.30am - 2pm
Place: Upper Level, Beaumaris Life Saving Club, Ricketts Point

A range of Community Events will be held both inside and outside the Beaumaris Life Saving
Club from 10.30am to 2pm are available to the whole community.
For more details click below:
https://www.eventbrite.com/.../20th-anniversary-of...

The Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary is an iconic part of Melbourne and was included in the
Victorian Government’s Marine Sanctuaries in November 2002 largely due to the long
campaign by the inaugural President, Mr Bob Whiteway OAM.
 The Northern Pacific Starfish is a pest on our Bayside coastline reefs. Please contact us
immediately if you see any so we can contact the EcoCentre experts to help us eradicate
them from our foreshore

Good News from Coastcare Victoria Port Phillip and Westernport Regional
newsletter - October Edition

Why we need to stop the spread of the Northern Pacific Seastar?

Teams of volunteers of the Community Rapid Response Teams project have been training
to remove pest Northern Pacific Seastars (NPS) from the Bay. With help from divers from
Earthcare St Kilda and Diveline Scuba Centre, they collected citizen science data on more
than 3200 pest seastars!

The project is designed for Rapid Response Teams of local volunteers to respond to mass
aggregations of NPS in the Bay. If you see lots and lots of orangey-purple, 5-armed seastars
congregating on your favourite beach plotting to take over the world, please let us know
ASAP and activate your local Rapid Response Team.

To make it easier for people to organise their own pest seastar removals outside of any
projects, the EcoCentre is re-launching the updated 2013 manual 'Best Practice Guidelines
for NPS Removal in Port Phillip Bay, 2022'. It has practical tips on how to organise your own
removals, the things you need to know and prepare for before you go out, get in and get
amongst it, and a great pest seastar identification guide.

Download your free copy of the manual here and join your local Rapid Response Team
here. This project was funded by the Victorian Government, under the Port Phillip Bay
Fund.

Article from Port Phillip EcoCentre.

Copyright: Sandringham Foreshore Association All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is: sandyforeshore@optusnet.com.au

Want to change how you receive these emails?

You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.