Beach bans working

Alex de Vos
Victoria’s first bans on smoking and glass on beaches have successfully reduced litter along the Surf Coast, according to the region’s foreshore manager.
Great Ocean Road Coast Committee’s Rod Goring said he had noticed a “vast improvement” following the introduction of the bans in October.
“From our observation we’ve collected a lot less glass. In terms of cigarette butts, I think it’s going to be a long-term process and it’s more about education.”
Mr Goring said the coast committee would conduct a “litter count” over the next couple of months for an accurate picture of the bans’ impact.
The coast committee had taken steps to spell out the bans and to help beach users comply with the new laws.
“We’ve improved our signage and have identified a few strategic locations at the entrances to the beach to put smoking bins,” Mr Goring said.
A Surf Coast Shire spokesperson said local laws officers were enforcing the bans but could not confirm how many warnings they had issued to beach users.
“Our local laws officers have been performing regular beach patrols as part of their duties,” the spokesperson said.
“They’ve spoken to members of the public as needed about the new bans on smoking and glass.
“We have not kept records of how many people have been spoken to. This is the first holiday season with the changes and it will take some time for people to become aware, so it’s reasonable to expect that the full impact of the bans will also not be apparent immediately.”
Surf Coast Shire introduced the bans after support outweighed opposition five-to-one in a call for public submissions on proposals to outlaw smoking and glass on the beaches.
Surfrider Foundation’s John Foss, who initiated the call for the smoking ban in the Independent last year, said the community’s reaction was no surprise.
“When it (the call to ban smoking on beaches) was announced back in March there was tremendous support,” Mr Foss said.