Surf Coast Shire will be cracking down on illegal and unsafe parking at Bells Beach, with a strong focus on ensuring buses and cars visiting the area park safely.
Following the recent adoption of the Bells Beach Coastal Management Plan, Council will be employing a conservation ranger dedicated to Bells Beach and ensuring a local laws officer is present during peak bus visitor times to direct buses and coaches.
Counts and audits of buses will also be completed and all commercial tour operators now using the Bells Beach Recreation Reserve will be contacted advising of parking restrictions and access arrangements at the reserve.
The crackdown comes as Council continues to work towards implementing a licensing/quota system for all commercial tour operators who visit Bells Beach.
Council is now seeking advice from Department of Sustainability and Environment on the process to implement a licence system and Victorian Government requirements that must be met.
Once in place, the proceeds of a system would contribute to the maintenance and infrastructure upgrades at the reserve.
Surf Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Libby Coker, said Council has clearly identified the need for coaches and buses using the reserve to be better managed.
“Council’s recently adopted Bells Beach Coastal Management Plan clearly supported the introduction of a permit system for commercial tourism operators,” Cr Coker said.
“Council is investigating the most appropriate method to introduce a system which is sustainable and will benefit Bells Beach for the future.
“As this may take a number of months, Council is acting now to improve the management of the Bells Beach Recreation Reserve.”
Cr Coker said increasing numbers of tourists visiting and walking in the reserve, poor compliance with parking arrangements and speeding drivers have all posed safety risks in the Bells Beach car park.
“These issues need to be addressed now.”
Cr Coker said Council was undertaking a number of actions at Bells now including:
- Reviewing signs in the reserve to ensure any illegal and unsafe parking by both buses and cars can be enforced and that all reserve users are aware of parking restrictions
- Connecting the existing toilet to the sewer as a matter of priority to alleviate the need for the existing system to be pumped out three times a week
- Reminding all tour operators known to be using the reserve of parking arrangements and restrictions in place; and
- Reviewing the visitation to the reserve in terms of traffic, rubbish volumes and toilet use.
Source: Surf Coast Shire media release
