Yarra Beach ? Have these guys never seen Port Phillip ?

williampitt · **Posted:** 13 Aug 2008, 11:17

Probably the nuttiest idea I've ever heard.

When we Melbourne come up with something original.

First we had now some public servant whose probably otherwise never ventured out of their office has borrowed an idea from Paris.

But please - across town - Port Melbourne is less than a 5 minute tram ride from Spencer Street ... what a waste this would be.

Quote:

Notion of an urban beach buoys city councillors

THINK of Victoria's famous beaches and you might conjure up Bells or Brighton. But what about the banks of the Yarra?

Melbourne City Council staff last night voted to examine the cost and location for a riverside urban beach in Melbourne, modelled on the Paris Plage.

Since 2002, the banks of the Seine have hosted a temporary summer beach, with sand, palm trees, deck chairs, concerts and picnics replacing a normally busy road.

City councillor Fiona Snedden last night urged her colleagues to support an investigation into a similar summer beach for the central business district.

The council's marketing and events committee voted 5-2 in favour of the investigation.

During the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the council helped establish a temporary beach at the Arts Centre for 11 days.

Speaking before the committee meeting, Cr Snedden said the beach would attract Melbourne families who could not afford to take holidays, or those who simply wanted to go to a local beach, without having to travel across town.

"To have an urban beach right on your back door would be very exciting," she said. "It would be for me - I'd be going there every day."

Cr Snedden said she did not know where the beach could be installed, but expected it to be about half or a full kilometre long. Any water activities would depend on the quality of the river at the time, she said.

Committee chairman Carl Jetter, who is in China, told The Age the proposal sounded like an election pitch.

Cr Fraser Brindley argued against the move, saying it would be a waste of money "trying to put nature where nature didn't put itself".

"My antiquated, conservative point of view is that if you want to go to the beach, you go to the beach; if you want to go to the forest, you go to the forest; if you want to walk beside the river, you walk beside the river," he said.

Cr Brian Shanahan favoured the investigation and described the plan as a very innovative idea.

J.v.d.A. · **Posted:** 13 Aug 2008, 15:45

Quote:

Speaking before the committee meeting, Cr Snedden said the beach would attract Melbourne families who could not afford to take holidays, or those who simply wanted to go to a local beach, without having to travel across town.

"To have an urban beach right on your back door would be very exciting," she said. "It would be for me - I'd be going there every day."

Every day huh?

Yeah right....what a load of nonsense. Sounds like the kid who nags his parent for a rabbit/dog/cat and promises to feed it every day etc......then the kid never looks at it after the first two weeks and the parents end up feeding the bloody thing.

What's the point of a beach when you can't actually swim in the water? I can see that beach rapidly becoming a hang out for the homeless etc.

Stupid idea.

topahend · **Posted:** 13 Aug 2008, 16:19

I was thinking exactly the same thing. The Yarra's filthy reputation would put many people off. Including myself. Why have beach if all you can do is sunbake. Still beach volleyball is always fun. As for a homeless hangout; sounds unlikely. I never see homeless people getting excited about anything. Novelties don't really appeal to them. The chance of free food is their big drawcard.

Elijah B. · **Posted:** 13 Aug 2008, 18:58

I wonder how well the idea has worked in Paris?

The only location near the City that I can think of is east of the Swanston St Bridge. If they put this beach on the south bank it will upset the rowers, and if they put it on the north bank not only would the beach be over-shadowed by trees, but Fed Square (and perhaps the City itself) might see yobs and slobs in their swimmers impressing tourists and workers alike with the laid-back Aussie lifestyle.

Still, I don't think it will happen; it does sound like an election pitch.

The idea itself has a certain appeal, I just don't think it would be a very good idea for Melbourne. Clean up the Yarra; then we'll talk.