PARKS Victoria has done an about-face after declaring that families would need a permit to hold children’s birthday parties at the Port Campbell beach.
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Port Campbell ranger in charge Will Cox said yesterday that Victorians had a strong and proud tradition of using parks and reserves for celebrations.
“The ranger who informed the birthday group that they would require a permit in future simply got it wrong. This private event did not require a permit.”
Mr Cox said he had personally contacted the family involved and apologised on behalf of Parks Victoria for getting it wrong and taking the gloss off the family’s day.
“The ranger, I and the other members of my team have reviewed what went wrong in this case to ensure an improved service to our community in future,” he said.
“We encourage and support this tradition and celebrations such as the children’s birthday party at Port Campbell.”
The issue became a hot talking point after a Parks Victoria ranger told parents at an eight-year-old’s birthday on the Port Campbell beach last Friday they required a permit to hold such a gathering.
That led to the grandmother of one of the children involved to send a text message to The Standard in which she labelled the requirement “ridiculous” and questioned whether she was living in a Russian state.
