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Victorian Resources Online

5-18 Prograding beach sector - Portland

This information has been developed from the publications:
  • An assessment of the Geological/Geomorphological Significance of Private Land in the Shire of Portland (1981) by N. Rosengren, J Mallen, T Shepherd.
Geological heritage sites, including sites of geomorphological interest and volcanic heritage sites, are under regular revision by the Geological Society of Australia, especially in the assessment of significance and values. Reference should be made to the most recent reports. See the Earth Science Heritage section of the Geological Society of Australia website (external link) for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Locality:

7221-529558. 500 metres south of Whalers Point.

Access:

Road to boat moorings and breakwater off Percy Street.

Geology/Geomorphology:

A short sector of prograding beach occurs north of the northern breakwater of Portland Harbour. The progradation is a result of the change in wave regime along this sector of coast subsequent to the breakwater construction.

Significance:

State. This is one of the few beach sectors on the Victorian coast that can be defined as prograding. It is a further demonstration that prograding sectors are now typically related to artificial structures.

Management:

The beach affords protection against cliff erosion and the sand body should be retained in its present dynamic state.

Reference:Bird, E.C.F. (1973). 'Physiographic changes on sandy shorelines in Victoria', I.G.U. Working Group on the Dynamics of Shoreline Erosion, Melbourne.
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