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Foreshore Reserve

SOMERS FORESHORE RESERVE

Somers Foreshore Reserve is part of an almost continuous strip of Crown Land that rings the coastline of Victoria. The reserved land protects the shoreline and the seabed from the pressures of development, is the repository of a unique body of Flora and Fauna that is protected by legislation and provides enjoyment and benefit to the general public.

The land, reserved by the Governor in Council on the 15 November 1924, is owned by the Crown and is managed by a Committee of Management on behalf of the Department of Sustainability and Environment.  The Committee of Management is appointed under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 by the Minister for Planning through an Expression of Interest Process (EIP).

THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST PROCESS

The EIP is advertised in the local press and at the general store. The C of M is appointed for three years. Previous members of the C of M go through the same EIP as new applicants.

THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT

The Committee of Management is the legal manager of the Reserve. The Committee’s responsibilities are to:

• Manage, improve, maintain and control the land for the purposes for which it is reserved.
• Exercise all such powers, functions and authorities and carry out all such duties as are conferred or imposed on it by any regulations.
• Carry out works and improvements on the land.
• The Committee must take all reasonable steps and care to protect the public.
• Volunteer committee members must not put themselves in danger while enforcing Regulations but should call the Police, the Shire Enforcement Officers or the DSE.

Reference- Committee of Management – Responsibilities and Good Practice Guidelines

MANAGING THE RESERVE

Management of the Reserve must conform to the Regulations for the Reserve as gazetted, Crown Lands (Reserves) Act 1978, Coastal Management Act 1995, Biodiversity Strategy, Victorian Coastal Strategy, Native Title Act 1993 as well as Local Laws and Planning Overlays, State and Commonwealth Laws and the Reserve’s endorsed Management Plan.

The Traditional Owners must be consulted before any work is begun on the Reserve.

THE AREA OF THE RESERVE

Somers Foreshore Reserve covers the area from the western boundary of Lord Somers Camp to the western boundary of HMAS Cerberus and from the private property boundaries or the road to mean high water mark. There is a small section of MPSC Reserve below the Hundred Steps, taking in the sea wall.

The Reserve is part of an eroding coastline and includes many types of terrain from sandy spit, tidal creek, wooded sand dunes and cliffs to open Coastal Banksia and Sheoak woodlands and grassyheath.

LEASED AREAS OF THE RESERVE

The Somers Yacht Club lease covers the footprint of the clubhouse, the boat yard and the rescue boat shed. The Yacht Club has the right of access to their leased site but do not lease the car park area. The specific purpose of the lease is for Yacht Club and associated infrastructure including a boat storage yard for the use of the members of the Somers Yacht Club other than when used for the benefit of the community of Somers.

WORK ON THE RESERVE

Any work on the Reserve, without prior permission from the C of M in writing, is illegal as is the dumping of rubbish and the police can be involved and a fine of up to $4000 can be imposed under the Coastal Management Act.

BUILT ASSETS ON THE RESERVE

All built assets on the Crown Land are the assets of the Crown. This includes the toilets, seats, picnic tables, BBQs, fences and gates and the Yacht Club buildings. The C of M manages these assets on behalf of DSE.

The lease of the Yacht Club requires the Lessee to maintain all structures, insure the property and indemnify the C of M and the DSE and Crown against loss.

THE RESERVE CAR PARKS

The two car parks service visitors using the Somers Reserve and the beach.

BEACH ACCESS

South Beach Road beach access and the Hundred Steps are MPSC assets. Western Park Road and Williams Point Track have Shire paths to the private properties seaward boundaries. SFCM is responsible for the access to the beach across Crown Land. The beach access from the Promenade is a DSE asset. There are access paths from Parklands Avenue that also have Shire paths from the road to the property boundaries.

FUNDING THE MAINTENANCE OF THE RESERVE

DSE does not fund the C of M. The Committee’s income comes for the rental for the site of the Somers Yacht Club. With this income the Committee pays for the water and electricity for the Reserve toilets and BBQs, pays for maintenance and running costs of the equipment needed to maintain the Reserve, pays to remove fallen trees from the tracks, pays to repair tracks or remove hazards and pays for all materials needed to do these works and covers the cost of hiring extra equipment as needed.

The committee pays for all stationary, postage, printing, photocopying, photography and phone costs. The committee transports all equipment to and from the work sites and collects all required materials and provides the safe storage of all equipment.

THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE COUNCIL CONTRIBUTION TO THE RESERVE

The Shire cuts the grass around the car parks and cleans the toilets. The Committee of Management is very grateful for this help.

POSSIBLE FUNDING SOURCES 

The Committee could raise money by charging for parking in the Reserve car parks or by licensing areas for business activities – such as refreshment kiosk or wind surfer hire.

APPLYING FOR GRANTS

There are a number of State and Federal funding opportunities that the Committee can apply for providing that the project qualifies.  The Committee has recently been successful with the Natural Heritage Trusts Envirofund program, which is a 1:1 dollar contribution.

DONATIONS

Financial donations towards the work of the Committee are very welcome as are in-kind donations of machinery or expertise, including assistance at working bees.

WORKING BEES

The Somers Foreshore Committee of Management Inc. hold monthly Working Bees – on the Third Sunday of the month – notices are displayed on the Notice Board on the Somers Store and handouts are left in the Post Office. Extra work programs are organised as needed and the committee is always happy to include anyone in their activities. The Committee has a mailing list and everyone is very welcome to add his or her name to the list. The C of M invites everyone to join the committee and volunteers after each Working Bees, at 11.30, for morning tea and a general discussion about the management of the Reserve as well as a friendly chat.

SOMERS FORESHORE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT MEETINGS

The Somers Foreshore Committee of Management hold monthly committee meetings – generally on the third Friday of the month. As the C of M has no premises the meetings are held in private homes. Individual’s requests to attend committee meetings will be accommodated but as the amount of business to be addressed is generally high visitors would be observers only and would be asked to leave after an hour if confidential business was to be discussed.

THANK YOU TO VOLUNTEERS

The committee would like to thank and acknowledge the band of loyal volunteers without whose help the Somers Foreshore Reserve would be very much the poorer.

CONTACTING THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT

 The Committee of Management can be contacted by writing to: P O Box 466,Somers, Vic 3927.