As early as February The Standard revealed there were concerns about commercial horse trainers using Warrnambool and district beaches. After eight months of considerable discussions and debate, the finishing post is in sight.

Horses will be banned from Warrnambool’s Lady Bay beach from December 1 in line with usual arrangements for the peak tourist season. But with horses banned from Levys Point sand dunes because of fears indigenous cultural heritage is being damaged and Moyne Shire this week indicating it would close Killarney beach to horses from December 20, authorities don’t have long to nail a solution.

Trainers argue they need the beach and dunes for low impact work for their horses but environmentalists want the beaches and bird habitat protected. Others just want safe access to the beach to fish, walk and play.

Racing Minister Martin Pakula (pictured) this month said banning horses from beaches forever was not the answer – trainers would want the real beach, a surface a man-made track at the racecourse could not replicate.

While councils, the state government and industry participants have united in search of a solution – including some controversial suggestions – one proposal emerged this week worth serious consideration.

Warrnambool City council candidate Richard Ziegeler is suggesting a one kilometre stretch of land that runs alongside Viaduct Road and the beach could be transformed into a purpose-built training facility.

The sand-based land, fenced off from the beach and road by ti-tree, could be turned into dunes and offer a decent area for galloping. A crossing over the beach into Lady Bay would allow horses to be swum, taking away the need to gallop up the beach.

For a stretch of land used as a dumping ground for sand dredged from Lady Bay and seaweed taken from the beach, this is a practical solution. The city’s $100 million racing industry, should fund the works. 

Mr Pakula has said he wants the community to find a solution and the government would help implement it. These ideas are better than long shots, they’re worth a punt. Finding the balance between preserving our beaches and helping an economically-important industry thrive might just be rounding the home turn.