$9m coast debt alarm

Alex de Vos
A state MP has demanded a financial review of the Surf Coast’s foreshore management after it revealed plans to borrow up to $9 million for caravan park upgrades.
Liberal Member for Western Victoria David Koch said he feared Great Ocean Road Coast Committee would have to raise prices at its Torquay and Lorne parks to pay back the debt.
“It’s a major concern that the only recovery is from the users and it would be unfortunate if there is a greater increase on site values,” Mr Koch said.
“The foreshore committee must be in a position to recognise that any site values have to be affordable.”
Mr Koch wanted an independent review of the committee’s “financial situation”.
“Due to the current circumstances, people are going to be very limited on their ability to spend money on holidays and this sort of outgoing would need a large occupancy on an annual basis.”
But Great Ocean Road Coast Committee’s David Clarke was “confident” the organisation would paid back the debt in a “reasonable timeframe”.
“We’ve done our homework in terms of costing and planning and our capacity to manage the borrowings,” Mr Clarke said.
“We’ll be delivering a range of improvements which will deliver additional revenue over the years.”
Mr Clarke said the committee had lodged an application with State Government for approval to take on the debt.
He expected an answer in the next few months.
Labor South Barwon MP Michael Crutchfield backed the committee’s application.
“These parks are critical pieces of Surf Coast infrastructure and play a major part in providing employment, jobs and investment in the Surf Coast region,” Mr Crutchfield said.
He revealed the committee was also looking for additional ways to boost its finances.
“I am personally assisting GORCC to find other avenues of revenue to assist their work right along the Surf Coast,” Mr Crutchfield said.
A public outcry two years ago forced the committee to dump plans for parking meters in beach car parks.
Last year the committee released a master plan to upgrade the Torquay caravan park.
The plan included 25 new cabins and several new roads but relocated or abolished some camping spaces.