Minnie Water Foreshore Concept Plan

Minnie Water Foreshore Reserve is a 33 hectare reserve that extends along the coastal fringe of Minnie Water consisting of Nip Welsh, Frog Hollow and Tree of Knowledge Parks. The reserve links the town with the beach, being serviced by picnic settings, shelters and barbecues, public amenities, open lawn areas, shade tree plantings and a children's playground.

Fibrous cement sheeting fragments known as bonded asbestos or asbestos containing material (ACMs) were unexpectedly found within the surface soil of the reserve in Nip Welsh Park and the area to the north after an extended period of dry weather and increased vehicle movements combined to reduce grass cover. The ACMs are believed to have come from fibro left over from cottages that were removed from this area in the 1950-60s.

Council sought independent advice and implemented initial control measures including an ‘emu pick’ of the site to remove visible fragments from the surface and barrier fencing to prevent further disturbance of the surface soil.

Council has developed the Minnie Water Foreshore Reserve Concept Plan. This plan will be used to inform the removal and ongoing management of the contamination. The key measures of this plan include the installation of gravel car parks over two contaminated areas and installation of low post and rail fencing and bollard barriers to control vehicle movements through the reserve. Other elements of the plan include proposed locations of new picnic settings, new turf areas, dune fencing, shade tree planting and beach access tracks.