While councillors agreed to support a push for the proposed Coast to Crater Trail, they refused to make a commitment on future maintenance, preferring to instead develop a new policy for the ongoing costs of all off-road trails.

Cr Geoff Smith issued the most vocal warning, saying the council was already finding it difficult to keep annual rate rises to the preferred figure of five per cent.

He said the shire had already employed additional staff and was involved in new projects this year.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we were faced with a much bigger rate increase next year."

The Twelve Apostles Tourism Association has taken up the campaign for the new trail which would join up with the existing Camperdown to Timboon Rail Trail, extending it to Port Campbell and Princetown.

The Timboon to Port Campbell section, which would run along a water pipeline and roadsides, is estimated to cost $1.15 million.

The $4.25 million Port Campbell to Princetown link would extend along the Great Ocean Road and would be sealed to cater for large numbers of users.

Annual maintenance costs for the entire trail are estimated at $135,000 a year.

The shire's recreation, culture and community facilities manager Trev Greenberger said the project was likely to attract substantial funding from Federal and State governments and local industry.

The tourist association has suggested that Parks Victoria should maintain and manage the Great Ocean Road section, with the shire responsible for the Timboon to Port Campbell section.

Cr Jim O'Brien said if the council agreed to maintain the new link, it would also have to support other existing trails at Terang, Noorat and Skipton.

Cr Matt Makin questioned why trails should be treated differently to any other sporting facilities.

"It's a very important recreational tool that citizens within our shire and outside our shire want to use."

He said volunteers were working hard to implement new projects in the shire and they should not be "100 per cent responsible" for ongoing maintenance.