Geelong Advertiser

BRIGHTON STYLE BEACH BOXES AT QUEENSCLIF­F

- SHANE FOWLES

BRIGHTON-STYLE beach boxes are set to be trialled in Queensclif­f.

The colourful initiative is included in a plan to increase the level of activity on the town’s front beach.

The foreshore plan, being developed by the Queensclif­f council, is also looking at extending Princess Park towards the beach.

A report by foreshore co-ordinator Garry Purton said the plan would identify potential new uses, starting with the trial of beach boxes.

“This will include the option of trialling the introducti­on of beach boxes and examine how these might be constructe­d and managed,” he wrote.

Beach boxes have been a feature at Brighton for more than 100 years. Earlier this year, one 6m x 4m box sold for a record $337,000.

Other features of the plan include: DRAWING a concept plan and estimating the cost of potentiall­y extending Princes Park; CLEANING the front beach, particular­ly around key public events and holiday periods, to improve the amenity of the foreshore; and POTENTIALL­Y promoting the opportunit­y to use collected seaweed on local gardens.

The council allocated $40,000 in its 2017-18 budget for beach cleaning at targeted times. A business, Resilience Farming, was able to convert the seaweed into compost material, for use on farms and vineyards on the Bellarine Peninsula.

“If additional business interest in the seaweed eventuates, officers would progress a request for quotation via targeted or public tender advertisem­ent,” Mr Purton wrote.

The council manages about 104 hectares of coastal crown land in the borough.

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 ?? Digital image: JUSTIN VAN ROSSUM ?? Brighton-style beach boxes are set to be trialled in Queensclif­f.
Digital image: JUSTIN VAN ROSSUM Brighton-style beach boxes are set to be trialled in Queensclif­f.

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