THE state government’s plan for commercial horse training on south-west beaches is expected to be voted through parliament on Thursday.
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In readiness, about 20 trainers have been issued licences by Warrnambool Racing Club (WRC).
Fifty licences – one per horse per day – have been allocated to cover about 270 horses. Some trainers with small stables will share a licence allowing them to train a horse on a beach every second day, while large-scale trainers such as Darren Weir, who applied to train 75 horses on beaches, received 14 licences.
WRC chief executive Peter Downs said the $250 licences covered summer only, with new licences to be offered for the rest of the year when more horses are permitted on beaches.
However, Mr Downs said some trainers may not accept the licences they had been offered as they were not worthwhile in terms of effort and time, while others may choose to swim horses at Lady Bay or alter their training programs.
He said WRC would monitor the beaches as often as possible to ensure trainers weren’t breaking the rules of the licences.
Belfast Coastal Reserve Action Group (BCRAG) members have also been monitoring the beaches over the past week.
BCRAG member Shane Howard said hooded plover nests had been spotted at Mills Reef and on the sand towards East Beach.
“Parks Victoria has been monitoring (nests) and roping areas off,” he said.
“We have had to protect some hooded plovers at Mills Reef and basically stand there and ask trainers to turn around.”
Mr Howard said the group would continue to monitor the situation and oppose commercial horse training on public beaches in a passive, non-confrontational, courteous and responsible manner.
Meanwhile South West Owners, Trainers & Riders Association (SWOTRA) spokesperson Tammy Good retracted claims that BCRAG members had waved placards and spooked horses during a “blockade” last week.
She said the relationship between BCRAG members and trainers had been amicable over the past week of BCRAG’s monitoring.
“As far as I know things are going ok,” Ms Good said.
“(BCRAG) have had a presence and they’re entitled to do that and we’re comfortable with that.”
BCRAG ran a poll on their website and Facebook page this week asking if people supported a ban on commercial horse training on beaches. The poll backfired when the link was shared widely throughout the horse racing community, giving the “No” vote a four-to-one majority.