The Port Fairy-based MP said he would vote to allow recreational horses and leashed dogs within the area currently marked as a conservation zone.

“The simple reason is that we all need to live together and we all need to use the common space,” Mr Purcell said.

He called on all sides of the debate to be “respectful of each other” and tolerate different uses within the coastal reserve.

“There are people who would like to have it blocked off and only used for one purpose, or not used at all, but I think if we are going to live on this planet... we need to be able to live in harmony and be respectful of each other,” he said.

Mr Purcell said he had received a lot of feedback around the draft management plan for the reserve, not all of it positive.

The draft management plan proposes two zones – a conservation zone around Armstrong Bay, Killarney, that aims to protect cultural heritage sites and flora and fauna, and a conservation and recreation zone that would allow dogs on leads and recreational horse riding.

The proposed conservation zone, which would ban dogs and recreational horses, has angered some local residents who fear they are being shut out of their local beaches.

An online petition against the plan has gathered more than 2700 signatures.

At the same time, environmental advocates and those working to protect vulnerable shorebirds are calling for better management of human impacts on local beaches. 

Mr Purcell said the simple way to make the change would be to convert the conservation zone to a conservation and recreation zone that would allow for recreational horse riding and dogs on leads, but said he would leave the finer details to the experts.

Submissions remain open on the draft management plan until March 16. Visit engage.vic.gov.au/belfast to view the plan and make a submission.