Surfers slam call to close 13th road

Andrew Mathieson
BARWON HEADS surfers fear a proposal to close 13th Beach Road to cars could shut them out of their favourite breaks.
They have called on Geelong Environment Council to back away from its support for a closure of the road to vehicle traffic.
The environment council suggested closing the road in a submission against a failed plan to build a 1.8kilometre boardwalk over the beach’s dunes.
The environment council suggested closing the road to cars would be a “more sensible use” than the proposed pathway.
Council president Joan Lindros last week remained adamant the road should close despite Barwon Coast Committee of Management withdrawing its controversial boardwalk plan as part of a RoundstheHeads trail adjacent to 13th Beach Road
13th Beach Boardriders Club president Simon Collier warned that closing the road would be highly unpopular among Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove residents.
“I can say straight up that it’s a huge issue for the club and I’m sure most of the members would disapprove of closing that road down,” he said.
“I’m sure 80 per cent of the locals would disapprove of it, too.”
Mr Collier said surfers used the road to access various breaks along 13th Beach.
Closing the road would force them to walk up to two kilometres for a surf, he said.
Barwon Coast general manager Bob Jordan said closing the 13th Beach Road was “impractical”.
“There is a surf life saving club along the road – how is anybody going to get to it?” he said.
A public backlash against the boardwalk plan force the Barwon Coast committee to dump the project.
The committee is now considering expanding the road by 1.5 metres on each side to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.