The Belfast Coastal Management Plan was released by the state government on Tuesday. 

While local trainers are allowed access to Killarney Beach and Rutledges Cutting, large scale commercial trainers have been moved to Hoon Hill and Levy’s Beach, both in Warrnambool City Council.

Moyne Shire Council mayor Mick Wolfe welcomed the plan.

“My thoughts are it is a good plan with compromise in all directions,” Cr Wolfe said.

“There were a lot of different groups who had their say as part of the plan coming together.

“I think the plan caters for everyone and also has some restrictions in place as part of the compromises. I think having the big commercial trainers with large number of horses off the beaches of Moyne is a good thing.

“At the some time, the plan does accommodate our local trainers that have used our beaches and been very responsible for a long time.”

In October last year, Moyne Shire voted to allowed local trainers to access Killarney Beach.

This access was subject to owners following 29 conditions laid down by council.

This decision was an about face for council, which had banned race horses from Killarney Beach in April 2017. 

Cr Wolfe said many of the conditions set by Moyne in relation to horse training on Killarney Beach had now been implemented by the state government. 

“We have been very thorough on this issue and we think that has had a positive impact on the whole process,” he said.