MELBOURNE Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir says his growing Warrnambool operation is under threat if beach access is cut.
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Warrnambool City Council and Moyne Shire officials told trainers on Tuesday they were under pressure to reduce access following complaints from beach goers during summer.
Weir, who is about to sign a new deal to house 40 horses at Warrnambool racecourse to lift his numbers in the city to 95, used Lady Bay and Killarney to prepare Prince Of Penzance for his Melbourne Cup victory.
Warrnambool's main beach is closed from December to March forcing trainers to use Killarney, with the extra horse traffic prompting complaints to Moyne Shire.
Ballarat-based Weir said he would be forced to close his Warrnambool satellite stable if access was denied at Killarney beach in summer.
"I need the beach and dunes to be open,” he said.
“I can understand they have to close the main beach at Warrnambool over the holidays but if Killarney beach is closed, I'll be closing my Warrnambool operation.
"It would be totally unviable for me to train in Warrnambool if we could not use the beach or the dunes for the full year. The beach and dunes have been the key to my success and others."
Weir employs 15 full-time and five part-time workers in Warrnambool. He had planned to hire another six full-time staff.
He spends $200,000 a year on feed and uses local businesses for other supplies.
Moyne shire manager of Environment and Regulatory Services Robert Gibson and Warrnambool local laws officer Peter McArdle outlined concerns to worried trainers at Tuesday’s meeting.
Mr Gibson said he wanted trainers’ views before preparing a report for councillors.
"We've had some complaints over the busy summer period regarding horses at Killarney," he said.
"It's all about safety, damage and the environment.
“We understand what the economic impact is from having horses trained here. At the end of the day, we have two user groups wanting to use the same place at the same time."
Mr McArdle addressed concerns about horses in the Levy’s Point dunes and said a report had to be made soon to Parks Victoria.
“We may suggest that horses can be worked at Levy's from Monday to Friday and give it a break on weekends. We're like Moyne Shire – we all understand the benefits in having horses trained here, but we have to try to find a common ground.”