Ocean Drive Footpath

Moyne Shire Council is continuing to monitor the management of the footpath works site at Ocean Drive Port Fairy.

While the Department of Premier and Cabinet investigation into the works is still in progress, Council remains committed to the continued protection of cultural heritage at the works site and public safety.

With summer holidays fast approaching, Council appreciates that there are growing community concerns regarding vehicle and pedestrian safety, as well as access to the beach for the many residents and visitors that come to this area.

Following a site review, Council will be increasing safety and access measures and additional signage by Christmas. These measures will include:

• Additional safety fencing and bollards along the western portion of the site from the car park near Powling Street to the end of the current kerb and channel works near Jehu Street.
• Barrier fencing to deter access from the beach along the closed access path at the small car park near Powling Street.
• Addition of flag bunting along areas of the site.
• Additional signage showing where there is public access to and from the beach.

These measures will provide for improved site safety, and protection of the cultural heritage site.

Temporary reinstatement of street signs has been put in place for Powling, Jehu and Phillip Streets.

Until the Department of Premier and Cabinet provide further information or direction to Council in relation to the investigation, these conditions will remain in place. Council is continuing to work through options for the site and will provide more details, when possible, to do so.

We appreciate the continued patience of residents and visitors, and we will monitor and respond to enquiries on an ongoing basis.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet is investigating an area of cultural heritage sensitivity within the work area. The Department has advised these investigations can take up to several months. Council is working with the Department to resolve this matter. We will keep the community informed as we get more information on the timeline for works resuming.

Temporary fencing has been installed for public safety, and to protect the area. We ask the community to avoid the works area during this time. There are several designated beach access paths that have been made safe, but we ask the community to adhere to the designated access paths.

Council will provide a further update in due course.

Council have received approved funding through the Federal Government’s Local Road and Community Infrastructure Grant to complete a new concrete footpath from Mills Crescent to Powling Street on the beach side of Ocean Drive, Port Fairy.

The Ocean Drive footpath has been instigated through numerous community requests for these works to improve accessibility and safe pedestrian connections to this popular coast and beach destination area.

The footpath will link with key Pea Soup Beach access points, as well as the wider footpath network including Russell Clark Reserve and Powling Street as shown hatched red in the layout plan below with a cross section of the kerb and path also shown. The footpath is part of the adopted 2022 Port Fairy Bicycle Strategy.

Works will include kerb and channel, two pedestrian crossing points, footpath installation, landscaping and minor road remediation works.

Traffic management will be in place as required during the works, with traffic disruption kept to a minimum. Works will be undertaken during normal working days with contractors on-site 8am to 5pm.

Works will commence mid-April after the Easter school holiday period and subject to weather conditions, will take approximately 6-8 weeks to complete. If these dates change significantly including any extension to the works schedule Council will provide further notification.

If you have tenants or holiday occupants in your property, you may wish to notify them of the works.

We will always endeavour to minimse work impacts and disruption, However, if you have concerns or questions during this time, please contact Council's Project Management Office by phone 1300 65 65 64 or via email to pmo@moyne.vic.gov.au.