Fine plan for meters

Jane Emerick
A shire refusal to supply parking inspectors could thwart controversial plans for meters at Torquay beaches.
Torquay councillor Ron Humphrey said he was organising a push to tear up the shire’s agreement with Great Ocean Road Coast Committee to police its parking meters.
The shire enforces the committee’s meters at Lorne but Cr Humphrey said he was seeking the support of other councillors to withhold the services of bylaws officers at Torquay, Jan Juc and Anglesea surf beach car parks.
“Car parking is tight at Lorne and the meters have stopped staff parking out the front of businesses but meters shouldn’t be at the surf beaches,” he said.
“I’m going to do everything I can to stop them. It’s outrageous, especially for our youth and families trying to live active and healthy lifestyles.
“We promote ourselves as a place of wellbeing and this goes against that.”
The committee plans to install meters at Torquay’s Back Beach and Surf Beach Drive, Jan Juc’s threetier car park and Anglesea’s Four Kings parking area by December 1.
The meters would run annually from the start of December to April 30 at costs of $1 an hour or $5 all day.
Under the existing agreement, Surf Coast Shire provides bylaws officers and keeps fines revenue, with the committee keeping the fees.
Coast committee executive officer David Clarke declined to comment on policing options if the shire withheld the services of bylaws officers.
“I haven’t got any more comments on paid parking this week,” he said.
The meters have angered beach users.
Grant Forbes, a 30year Torquay resident and trader, said the meters would disrupt the “social network” of surfing.
“Surf beach car parks are a place for people to meet friends,” Mr Forbes said.
“You park your car, you look at the surf, you speak to others about their kids and what they’ve been up to.
“Put paid parking in and you’ll destroy that social network.”
Mr Forbes labelled the coast committee undemocratic.
“They want to put in paid parking and not consult locals.
“They don’t report to council, they don’t report to State Government. Who do they report to?”
Torquay Boardriders’ Ross Slaven said the group already had 200 signatures on a petition against the meters.