Between 25 March and 22 April 2025, we heard from 289 participants about their views on the draft plan, including 59 contributors (60 contributions) via Bayside’s Have Your Say (HYS) community engagement webpage (with 720 unique visitors to the page, and a total of 1,070 views), 216 at our face-to-face community events, 8 direct emails and 2 phone calls to the project officer, and 4 questions asked on the public HYS forum.

Key findings

Of the 60 participants in the online survey, 25% found the draft CMMP vision captured their wants for Bayside’s coastal and marine areas in the future. 48% thought the vision mostly captured their wants with some aspects missing. 10% of respondents were not sure, while 17% noted the vision partly captured their wants with a few changes required.

Key concerns and suggestions included:

• The omission of 1st Beaumaris Sea Scouts facilities from the plan and call for recognition, maintenance, and integration of their long-standing community contributions
• Management of overcrowding and safety at Dendy Street Beach, including control of tourist buses, introduction of dog-free and windsurfer-free zones, and CCTV installation
• Support for expanding marine protection zones, particularly north of Ricketts Point to Half Moon Bay, and greater policing of illegal fishing.
• Advocacy for stronger environmental management: seagrass rehabilitation, habitat protection, fox and Myna eradication, and preventing housing development that ignores climate resilience.
• The need for tailored coastal management acknowledging the unique topography of Bayside’s southern foreshore, with emphasis on enhancing natural character and avoiding excessive commercialisation
• Concerns about jet ski impacts—safety risks, noise pollution, and inadequate enforcement—alongside calls for a 1km exclusion zone.
• Desire for improved access to foreshore near BMYS and more inclusive public use of fossil beach area.
• E-bike and scooter redirection to Bay Road considered unsafe due to aggressive traffic; requests for safer alternatives and better trail enforcement where cyclists encroach on pedestrian-only paths.
• Suggestions to add an Indigenous Rangers programme and better enforcement of no-smoking regulations.
• Emphasis on protecting the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary from dogs, dredging impacts, and pollution, and educating residents about its significance.
• Interest in more bathing boxes and preserving the ‘rustic’ nature of the Beaumaris coastline.

Council-wide actions

Participants selected the top 5 Council-wide actions as:

1. Investigate innovative and nature-based marine and coastal stabilisation measures.
2. Develop beach cleaning standards and best practice guidelines.
3. Explore coastal and marine habitat restoration opportunities and potential collaborative partnerships.
4. Ensure existing infrastructure is effectively monitored, maintained, upgraded, or removed/ replaced.
5. Develop a consistent approach for the management of seaweed, debris and sludge from Bayside’s beaches.

Precinct specific actions

Beaumaris

Participants nominated the top 3 precinct specific actions as:

• Increase community awareness of fossil sites, biodiversity and habitat values at Ricketts Point.
• Monitor coastal erosion and changes in vegetation at Ricketts Point and intervene only as required to maintain biodiversity and habitat values.
• Liaise with Melbourne Water to improve stormwater management to improve water quality, maximise climate resilience and reduce inland flooding.

Black Rock

Participants nominated the top 3 precinct specific actions as:

• Advocate to Parks Victoria to improve signage and enforcement of jet ski exclusion zones at Half Moon Bay.
• Advocate to Parks Victoria and Victoria Police to manage illegal party events below the cliffs at Red Bluff.

Equal third:

• Advocate to Parks Victoria to provide a sustainable long-term solution for access to Black Rock Pier.
• Continue ongoing dredging as required to maintain safe access at the Half Moon Bay Boat Ramp.

Brighton

Participants nominated the top 3 precinct specific actions as:

• Liaise with Melbourne Water to improve stormwater management to improve water quality, maximise climate resilience and reduce inland flooding.

Equal second:

• Develop a long term position in relation to the Bathing Boxes, having regard to storm surge and sea level rise impacts.
• Periodically renourish Dendy Street Beach to provide a temporary level of resilience to foreshore erosion.
• Investigate options to improve coastal stability, protect values and provide accessible walking access between Brighton Life Saving Club and Green Point.

Hampton

Participants nominated the top 3 precinct specific actions as:

• Maintain established exotic historic trees while continuing weed control and staged replacement of native amenity planting with indigenous species while maintaining open views to the Bay.
• Liaise with Melbourne Water to improve stormwater management to improve water quality, maximise climate resilience and reduce inland flooding.

Equal third:

• Upgrade access to the Hampton Foreshore to improve accessibility to the Hampton Lifesaving Club.
• Upgrade the Bay Trail south of Orlando Street to improve safety.

North Brighton

Participants nominated the top 3 precinct specific actions as:

• Protect and maintain the narrow coastal vegetation strip including Rakali habitat during any sea wall and coast path works between Head St and Glyndon Ave.
• Advocate to Parks Victoria for a program of regular dredging to maintain existing channels at Brighton Harbour and minimise excess sand accumulation at Sandown Street drain.

Equal third:

• Liaise with Melbourne Water to improve stormwater management to improve water quality, maximise climate resilience and reduce inland flooding.
• Upgrade the sea wall and Coast Walking Trail between Head Street and Glyndon Avenue.

Sandringham

• Participants nominated the top 3 precinct specific actions as:
  • Liaise with Melbourne Water to improve stormwater management to improve water quality, maximise climate resilience and reduce inland flooding.
  • When building replacement/ refurbishment is required in Sandringham Harbour, ensure retention of the architectural character and minimise impact on cultural and environmental values while investigating opportunities for consolidation, multi-use and climate.
  • Coordinate access and management of Sandringham Harbour, leases and major events with Parks Victoria.

Actions missed in the draft CMMP

Participants shared their feedback on the actions they thought were missing from the draft CMMP. A summary of these items include:

• Environmental protection & climate resilience:
  • Establish a climate resilience plan to address vulnerabilities like storm surge and erosion.
  • Regular removal of dead coastal vegetation due to fire risk.
  • Avoid dredging sand from Sandringham Harbour onto Hampton dog beach—poor quality sand degrades user experience.
  • Oppose sand renourishment at Dendy Beach using sand from Brighton Beach.
• Tourism impact management:
  • Introduce a tourism tax for maintenance and rubbish disposal at Dendy Bathing Boxes.
  • Address tourism pressures at Dendy Street beach, including increased rubbish and environmental degradation.
• Vegetation and habitat protection:
  • Do not widen paths at the expense of remnant indigenous vegetation.
  • Protect sensitive coastal environments like fossil beach and Beaumaris cliff areas from infrastructure overdevelopment.
• Dog management:
  • Stricter enforcement of dog controls at Ricketts Point and along coastal trails.
  • Emphasis on the disturbance to wildlife and beachgoers by both off-lead dogs and on-lead dogs and the need to address dog excrement issue.
• Ricketts Point Sanctuary protection:
  • Protect migratory birds like the sharp-tailed sandpiper at Ricketts Point.
  • Prevent illegal fishing and poaching.
  • Expand Rickett Marine Park north and south.
• Advocate for a 1km jet ski exclusion zone.
• Enforce no-smoking regulations, especially for fishermen.
• Increase community education about marine sanctuaries.
• Beaumaris Sea Scouts:
  • There is a significant oversight in the engagement response regarding the exclusion of the 1st Beaumaris Sea Scouts. Community feedback calls for improved and maintained access to their boat shed, jetty, and facilities, while also recognizing the group's long-standing presence since 1948 and its valuable contribution to outdoor youth programs.
• Public and emergency access:
  • Improve access to the Beaumaris Fossil Site and minimize impacts of nearby infrastructure.
  • Consider emergency access via Beaumaris Scout boat shed ramp.
  • Seal upper car park at Half Moon Bay.
  • Improve walking trails without compromising cliff stability or vegetation.
• Bike and pedestrian safety:
  • Introduce bike barriers at pedestrian-only trails to prevent cyclist entry (e.g., Beach Rd area).
• Waste management and amenities:
  • Increase rubbish bin cleaning, maintenance, and replacement, and provide better litter control at high-traffic coastal sites.

Other comments

A summary of other comments shared by participants include:

• Environmental protection and climate resilience:
• Strong concern that the CMMP omits actions on dog management in sensitive areas.
• Support for the enforcement of no smoking laws, especially near the beaches.
• Multiple calls for a 1km jet ski exclusion zone to improve safety and protect the marine environment.
• Foreshore use and tourism management:
  • There is strong community concern about the over-commercialisation of the foreshore, especially at Brighton Bathing Boxes.
  • Support was expressed for implementing a tourist permit system or levy to fund maintenance and manage visitor numbers. It was suggested that infrastructure funding should be linked to those who contribute most to environmental impacts, such as tour operators.
• Infrastructure and Action Planning:
  • Perception that the plan includes vague or "broad motherhood statements" without specific actionable outcomes.
  • Frustration that in areas like Black Rock, identified issues (erosion, flooding, access) do not align with proposed actions.
  • Suggestions to improve alignment between identified problems and practical, localised solutions.
• Inclusion of 1st Beaumaris Sea Scouts:
  • There is strong and repeated concern about the exclusion of the 1st Beaumaris Sea Scouts from the CMMP. The community is calling for recognition of the group’s historic and ongoing contribution since 1942/1948, inclusion of their boatshed, jetty, and foreshore in planning actions, support for public access and facility maintenance, and formal recognition as a key stakeholder.
• Suggestions to replace eroded sand at Black Rock Beach.
• General support for ongoing maintenance of community-used spaces and natural assets.

Amendments to the draft CMMP

Feedback resulted in some amendments to the draft CMMP that will be presented to Council to endorse. These changes include:

• Clearer articulation of roles and responsibilities across all actions and ensuring all key stakeholders are appropriately referenced
• Address omissions in the CMMP including identifying the two life saving clubs in Black Rock and 1st Beaumaris Sea Scouts in Beaumaris
• Inclusion of Heritage Victoria as an identified key stakeholder
• Remove reference to private ownership of bathing boxes
• Highlight protection of historic heritage and threat to bathing boxes as a heritage registered place
• Greater clarity around Parks Victoria and Bayside City Council lead and supporting/partnership responsibilities
• Include reference to jet ski issues
• Include reference to citizen science programs
• Additional details added in coastal processes to reflect processes in specific locations
• Highlight significance of Sandringham Harbour precinct in local economy and status as a regional harbour
• Include details on safe harbour facilities to support marine access, safety, and water-dependent activities
• Formation of a council-wide action regarding development of a clear response to major storm and coastal erosion
• Inclusion of an action to investigate establishment of a new connection at the southern end of the sea wall promenade to Sandringham Gardens
• Inclusion of an action to investigate opportunities to enhance community access to the foreshore and beach through recreation activities
• Further detail included around approach to management of seaweed.

Find out more

Read the complete community engagement summary report.

Next steps

Council will consider the final draft of the 10-year CMMP for adoption at its meeting on Tuesday 17 June 2025.

Council meeting 6.30pm, Tuesday 17 June 2025

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