MILLS BEACH DRAFT PRECINCT PLAN
After more than a year of discussion, engineering site visits, and some community input, another draft plan to sort out access to Mills Beach, improve parking design and improve disabled parking and picnic facilities is being considered by the Shire (June 2013). Many of the improvements will affect the Mornington Life Saving Club, its access and wall in front of the clubhouse. The bank there has already collapsed and urgent work is needed before next summer. Some of the picnic and parking facilities appear to require development right across the restoration and replanting around the slopes and car park area done by MEA and Friends of Mills Beach in 2012 under a Coastcare Grant.
We are still working with the Club and Shire to reduce the removal of indigenous trees and our new plantings. The car park needs some formalising (though not necessarily bitumen), and a separated access for pedestrians and vehicles. The BBQ area in the middle of the car park is to be moved, though we do not agree where new picnic facilities are to be placed. We also wish to preserve as much foreshore vegetation (banksia woodland here is regarded as threatened on the Peninsula) as possible.
Mornington Foreshore Advisory Group is also reviewing the various options in this important beachside.