On January 6, The Standard reported illegal parking had caused traffic chaos at Gibson Steps, at times bringing traffic to a halt as cars spilled from a packed parking area onto the roadsides.

In the Corangamite Shire Council’s monthly mayor’s report, Cr O’Connor said the attraction’s parking infrastructure needed serious attention, calling on the state government to invest in additional facility upgrades such as walking and cycling tracks, as well as a shuttle bus service.

Cr O’Connor’s report said police were required to fine illegally parked drivers on the busy tourist road, but the poorly designed Gibson Steps car park was partly to blame.

“How much must it detract from a visitor’s experience from England, Germany or China when they return to their car after visiting Gibson Steps to find they have been fined for illegal parking?” he said.

“There is currently no signage at Gibson Steps suggesting that a larger car park is only a kilometre away, while at the Twelve Apostles site, there is no mention of the access track back to Gibson Steps via the underpass and track.

“Obviously more car parks at the Gibson Steps are necessary, but the Twelve Apostles Trail would be an excellent project to start the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan roll-out.”

Cr O’Connor said the federal government had contributed $200,000 towards planning the project, but the state was yet to recognise it as a priority by helping upgrade toilets, car parking and safety features.

“Many of our 2.6 million visitors see the Twelve Apostles as a day trip and if we can get even another 10 per cent of them out of their car or bus and onto a walking track, it will mean potentially another 260,000 overnight stays in the region.”