“We are not going to apologise for investing in the future of an important industry to create jobs and opportunities,” mayor Matt Makin told The Standard yesterday in response to criticism by ratepayers.

“There are always pressures on budget, but council unanimously determined this is a high priority issue.”

The panel’s report last week said four coastal sites identified by the study for new high-end tourism accommodation should not be rezoned.

Another 16 potential sites for tourism ventures gained the nod.

Budget figures tabled at the council’s meeting on Tuesday night showed $137,000 was spent on legal fees and panel costs for three recent planning amendment proposals. About $115,000 of that was for the tourism issue hearing conducted over four days at Camperdown late last year, shire chief executive Andrew Mason confirmed yesterday.

The shire hired a barrister, an instructing solicitor and four expert witnesses.

That comes on top of the council’s $35,000 contribution to the $100,000 tourism study conducted about two years ago by consultants with grants from the state government and Tourism Victoria.

Timboon’s Neil Trotter, who was among 99 submitters to the panel, has described the exercise as a waste of ratepayers’ money.

“The issues are far broader than just accommodation. I’ve written to the Planning Minister,” he said.

“Marketing is the biggest problem.

“Tourists come down on one-day visits and leave their effluent and rubbish, but very little else to benefit the region.”

Councillors are likely to vote on the panel report next month or March to decide if they will accept, challenge or amend the recommendations.

It will then be referred to Planning Minister Matthew Guy for a determination.

Cr Makin said tourism was a key industry and the council would not shy away from supporting moves to attract more visitors.

“The level of our expenditure is exactly the reason why we are seeking planning amendments,” he said.

“It would be almost prohibitive costs for individual developers to do the amendment process themselves.”

Cr Makin said the study identified opportunities for new tourism accommodation, particularly for the luxury conference and coach tour market.

“It’s a chicken and egg type thing. You are not going to get numbers until the product is there,” he said.