Coast takeover bid

Jane Emerick
A state MP yesterday accused Surf Coast’s foreshore manager of failing to live within it’s “generous” budget.
Member for South Barwon Michael Crutchfield joined councillor Ron Humphrey to back a shire takeover of controversial Great Ocean Road Coast Committee.
Mr Crutchfield said transferring responsibility for managing the 37km coastline between Torquay and Lorne from the stateappointed coast committee to the shire would “make sense”.
The coast committee has come under sustained fire for controversial projects such as its nowsuspended threat to install parking meters at surf beaches and a unisex toilet on Torquay’s foreshore.
Critics have accused the committee of failing to consult the community.
The committee draws about $4 million in revenue a year from Torquay and Lorne’s caravan parks, lease agreements and other commercial operations on Surf Coast foreshore areas.
Under the Crown Land Reserves Act, the shire would use the same revenue sources to manage the coast.
Mr Crutchfield said the committee had more problems than other coastal managers.
He accused the committee of failing to keep within its “generous” budget.
“The committee needs to focus on projects based on its budgets,” he said.
“If you’re getting X amount of money, you can only spend X amount of money.”
Cr Ron Humphrey said he would seek council support at a meeting next week to launch a takeover bid for the coast committee.
Committee chairman Lawrie Baker quit this week, accusing State Government of providing inadequate funding.
The committee was so short of cash it might have to borrow money to maintain the caravan parks, he said.
Mr Baker called on the Government to hand over lease revenue from Lorne’s foreshore Erskine House, estimated at $500,000 to $1 million a year.
“The Victorian coastal strategy outlines that funds generated from commercial activities on the coast be directed to coastal reserve management,” he said.
“Erskine House is the only instance in Victoria where this policy is not being implemented.”
Mr Baker rejected the shire takeover plan as a “secondbest option” for managing the coast.