Beach parking fees loom along our coast

The state government on Monday quietly introduced a proposal for a “visitor parking fee” for all areas managed by Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA).

The area affected stretches more than 100km from Point Impossible to Port Campbell and includes some of the busiest beaches in the region as well as toilet stops, piers, lighthouses and waterfalls. Bells Beach is not included at this stage.

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) said “locals” would be exempt from fees “in their local community”, but is seeking feedback to define “local”.

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Polwarth MP Richard Riordan, who represents much of the Great Ocean Road region, said he was “blindsided” by the plan.

“Are residents in Geelong local? are people in Colac local?” he said.

“Are they just going to be taxed every time they go to the beach? I have a lot of questions.”

He said the parking fees were essentially a “beach tax” making travellers “plug the deficit” while the state government cut funds on basic coastal and bush management, including cutting coastal erosion funds entirely, to spend money on tunnels in Melbourne.

“They’ve completely cancelled numerous project in the Greater Geelong area, now they are taxing the life out of the Great Ocean Road,” Mr Riordan said.

DEECA specified the revenue raised would fund GORCAPA’s work to protect and enhance sensitive environments, conserve places of cultural significance and maintain visitor facilities and infrastructure such as lookouts, walking trails, car parks and toilets.

“Coastal management is the role of government, we already pay tax for that,” Mr Riordan said.

“Bugger me, they’re supposed to be doing that with the money they already have.”

He said in the past 12 months, the Great Ocean Road region had already seen a massive hike in land tax and short-term accommodation tax while the Labor government cancelled promised projects including the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve upgrade, the Skenes Creek walk, wide-scale disability beach access and more.

“Will perennial problems around overflowing bins, broken toilets, pothole ridden car parks be solved?” he said.

In an email to local councillors, Mr Riordan urged them not to take this new tax “without a vigorous defence” of local communities.

A DEECA spokesman said the visitor parking fees would directly fund the protection of the coast and parks along the Great Ocean Road.

“It also means that the thousands of visitors to the area each year are helping protect it for future generations to enjoy,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the department was inviting feedback from the community to help shape the change.

“As locals would know, at high-use areas we have seen environmental values damaged and tourist sites and visitation facilities get run down.

“This change will improve things on the ground and help manage pressures long-term.”

DEECA is now seeking community feedback on the fees.

The Surf Coast Shire was contacted for comment.