THE State Government asked if Moyne Shire Council wanted to continue managing Killarney Beach and the council has responded with an emphatic “yes”.
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As part of preparations for a management plan covering the Belfast Coastal Reserve, which was triggered by issues around commercial racehorse training in the area, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) “contacted us to ask about the management of Killarney Beach (and) what we want to do”, Moyne Shire chief executive David Madden said.
Killarney Beach is the only section of the coast between Port Fairy’s East Beach and Warrnambool’s Levy’s Beach not managed by Parks Victoria.
Councillors voted 6-0 in favour of retaining control of the beach, although whether the state government will allow the shire to do so is unknown. The majority of councillors expressed concerns about whether Parks Victoria would be able to maintain the beach, boat ramp, car parks and associated access roads to the level the shire keeps them.
Cr Daniel Meade said he feared that if Parks Victoria managed the beach, the level of maintenance would slip, affecting the residents and visitors using the nearby council-controlled caravan park and recreation reserve.
“It’s maintained to a high level, same as the caravan park, and to dissect the two would lead to poor maintenance standards (at the beach) with a new manager further disconnected from the area,” Cr Meade said.
“That’s a risk that’s unacceptable.”
Cr Mick Wolfe questioned “why we’re being asked our position” on the issue, while Cr Jordan Lockett said he was “flabbergasted” by the idea of handballing management of the beach to Parks Victoria.
Cr Wolfe said Parks Victoria had “tried to fob us off” in the past when the shire requested works be done on Parks Victoria assets in the municipality, such as the steps at the Bay of Martyrs.
Cr Ian Smith said that in April residents contacted the shire about getting a vandalised fence at the beach repaired, and the works were done quickly.
“What would have happened if DELWP or Parks Victoria were responsible?” Cr Smith said.
“I’d be concerned that local residents would lose control over their beach.”