Evan Thornley,
then a Labor MLC for Southern Metropolitan Region
(at left), with the Zone 1-2 Leader (2nd left), President (3rd left), and
Treasurer (at right) of Beaumaris Conservation Society Inc, after a walk with
them in November 2008 to inspect the roadside edge of the National Estate
section of Beaumaris foreshore reserve.
That
reserve, which is part of the Beaumaris Bay Fossil Site
on the Register of the National Estate, is of national and international importance,
but it is threatened with losing 90 trees or, far worse, being bisected right
along its length, if VicRoads cannot meet Bayside Council’s request for a short extension of the
nearby 2-lane safety section to give room on the Beach Road bitumen for the
bicycle road extension.
Mr Thornley said he thought the solution to the
impasse between saving the bushland reserve and extending the concrete
bicycle road can be resolved. He agreed to make a second walk between Cromer
and Charman Roads, and back along the cliff top path with the VicRoads Regional Director, Metro
South East, being present to see the problem on site and discuss
it with him while BCS Inc. officers were present. That second visit took
place on 2008-12-01, and enabled the Regional Director and his assistant, Mr
Trevor Smith, to assess matters.
