Petition Cease the practice of mechanical beach raking

The petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that mechanical raking of beaches by councils, including Mornington Peninsula Shire, has caused long-term environmental harm. It destroys vital seaweed habitats, buries and fragments plastic litter, including syringes, and disrupts fragile ecosystems. A supervised 2023 test confirmed mechanical raking was ineffective, financially wasteful, and ecologically damaging. These findings were acknowledged in the Commission for Environment Sustainability Victoria’s State of the Marine and Coastal Environment 2024 Report. In contrast, a 12-month hand-cleaning trial in 2024, delivered cleaner beaches, visible foredune regeneration, and rediscovery of the endangered coastal plant, Salsola tragus. Early evidence suggests reduced storm-related erosion, as natural sand-berms are allowed to form. The continuation of mechanical raking is inconsistent with State and Federal policies which call for marine and coastal stewardship, biodiversity protection, and the adoption of low-impact solutions for coastlines. Under the Marine and Coastal Act 2018, councils as land managers have a duty to maintain beaches in good condition and prevent erosion. Mechanical raking undermines these obligations, while sustainable hand-cleaning supports compliance and ensures alignment with the Victorian Coastal Strategy and commitments under the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to review local council beach cleaning policies to ensure practices align with State and Federal frameworks for marine and coastal stewardship, including the Marine and Coastal Act 2018 and the Victorian Coastal Strategy, and introduce legislation to cease the practice of mechanical beach raking and permanently adopt sustainable hand-cleaning methods that protect biodiversity to secure healthier marine ecosystems, safer public spaces, and more resilient coastlines for future generations.