Gunnamatta Outfall, Victoria, Australia

Boags Rocks Waste Water Ocean Outfall, Mornington Peninsula.

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• Boags
• Rocks
• Outfall

[Stumagoo1975]

I was under the impression the water was class A, and sure you can smell the bleach in the water when surfing Gunnamatta, but you dont expect to see such blatent polution on Australian beaches. In time of drought we are pumping water out into the ocean that could be further treated and used for agriculture. I guess the Clean Ocean Foundation just got another ACTIVE member.

[blackwellboyd]

Responses are limited so I'll break mine into 3 parts. Part 1. The government does have a plan to reduce the amount of waste water from the outfall from 2012. An earlier reduction or closure would result in substantial economic benefits. Firstly, there would be increased recreational opportunities for current and future users. For all Peninsula residents and visitors there is little choice over 'clean' surf beaches. For lower socio-economic users there is possibly no choice.

[blackwellboyd]

Part2. Secondly, your point about scarce water supplies is only 'the tip of the iceberg' but a highly relevant and pressing issue. Simply look to the South East Queensland water grid as an example. The grid includes water recycling projects from major outfalls to begin this year. This will help with improved environmental outcomes in Moreton Bay, a major recreational, tourism and ecological resource for Brisbane.

[blackwellboyd]

Similarly, I would imagine reductions or closure of the Gunnamatta outfall may improve investment and business on the Mornington Peninsula. I found some respondents to a survey I have undertaken reconsidering their investment in property on the Peninsula with south west alternatives such as Lorne. The outfall combined with the dredging of the bay may shift investment and business opportunities compounding the annual downturn of the Peninsula business cycle during winter.

[blackwellboyd]

Part 3. Lastly, your other point about expectations is even more pressing for the government. Your point is about the ethics of the outfall. I think if constituents in Melbourne were aware that most of the brown water - roughly 250+ Olympic swimming pools a day - comes from use in their homes and if they could experience the outfall in situ for themselves this would put additional pressure on the government to move more quickly to address this inequitable and inefficient situation.

[IIproductionsII]

@Stumagoo1975 I surf at Port Sea and everything seems fine there. I was gonna try surfing at Gunnamatta this summer, looks like I wont be after watching this video. Just looked your comment is 2 years old lol, doubt you'll even read this.

[Stumagoo1975]

I cant belive there are no comments on this video, I surf the Peninsula all the time including Gunna. That is an absolute disgrace that the water and rocks could be so dirty. I would like this video to be viewed by John Brumby with a PLEASE EXPLAIN.