A DRAIN installed on the beach in Mentone is causing safety concerns for residents.
The drain, which received a “major upgrade” last month, is located near the life saving club.
Kingston councillor Geoff Gledhill raised the issue on his Facebook page. “I’ve been contacted by a number of residents who are concerned about the design of the new drain infrastructure on Mentone Beach. It is a substantial drop into what can be deep water, or at low tide, rocks with obviously insufficient barriers to stop a small child,” he said.
“I have asked City of Kingston to apply a temporary fix however they apparently have to wait for Melbourne Water to do something as it’s their property. Please guys stop squabbling and someone take responsibility, it is dangerous, there are people everywhere on the foreshore.”
Melbourne Water project manager Josh Kar told The News that “although the existing rail meets Australian Safety Standards we’ve gone further and erected temporary additional fencing while permanent options are investigated.”
A statement issued by Melbourne Water last month read that the recent changes to the drain were “crucial for the safety and function of the drain after a combination of events, including sand blocking the drain opening and flooding from heavy rainfall, caused it to fail.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 19 August 2020
