Access to Stingray Bay is expected to be restored ahead of the summer peak season, with the Warrnambool City Council receiving the necessary consent from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to carry out repair works.
Work will commence on Viaduct Road from the week of November 11.
The works will include:
• geotextile sand container revetment wall to protect the road from future storm events
• repairs to the timber groyne wall to protect the dune from future storm events
• repair of the car park and road infrastructure that was undermined
Warrnambool City Council CEO Andrew Mason said that he was pleased to see works ready to commence.
"Access to Stingray Bay has been closed, along with a number of car parks on Viaduct Road following a destructive storm in September," he said.
"As this is Crown Land that is also within a Marine Park, Council required approval from Parks Victoria, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation and DEECA prior to the works being able to commence.
"Because the storm was listed as a Declared Disaster by the Department of Home Affairs, we can hope to be able to access Disaster Recovery Funding for this project.
"These repairs are aimed at re-establishing defence against similar storms in the future.
"Viaduct Road and Stingray Bay are popular spots, especially in the peak summer season, so it's a very good outcome to be able to carry out these works prior to Christmas."
The works are expected to take approximately four to six weeks to complete, subject to weather.
While access to Stingray Bay will soon be restored, everyone is reminded that Middle Island is permanently closed to the public. This is to protect the vulnerable bird species that inhabit it, including little penguins and short-tailed shearwaters.
