We”ll trash ”em

Jane Emerick
Surfers have vowed to vandalise parking meters set for Torquay and Jan Juc surf beaches next summer.
Great Ocean Coast Committee has announced it will install meters at Torquay’s Back Beach and Surf Beach Drive, Jan Juc’s threetier car park and Anglesea’s Four Kings parking area in from December 1.
Spaces would cost $1 an hour or $5 for allday parking, with the meters operating annually from December 1 to April 30.
A Torquay surfer, who wanted to be identified as Robbo, said he and his mates would never pay to surf their local beaches.
“There’s going to be huge community backlash,” he warned.
“I’ll probably hammer a bent 20cent piece (into the meters).
“I’m not going to pay, no way.
“Are they saying we should watch the time when we are out surfing? It’s ridiculous.”
Another Torquay surfer, Wombat, said he would either vandalise meters or park in side streets.
“You shouldn’t have to pay to park at the beach,” Wombat said.
Torquay Boardriders vicepresident Ross Slaven had also heard threats to vandalise the meters.
“I’m on the beach and that’s what people are saying they’ll do,” Mr Slaven said.
“I’m not one to promote vandalism but I think these surfers are very genuine in what they’re saying and what they’re prepared to do.”
Mr Slaven said installing meters at beaches without community consultation was “disgraceful”.
“This is a bullying tactic. They haven’t used any form of research.”
Coast committee executive officer David Clarke said his organisation chose the meter sites based on size and use.
Mr Clarke said the meters would cost $10,000 each.
He refused to reveal how many meters would appear at the car parks, except that it was an “appropriate” amount.
The committee hoped to raise $80,000 to $90,000 a year from the meters.
Mr Clarke also refused to reveal how long the meters would take to cover their cost.
“It’s inappropriate to reveal those details to the public at this time,” he said
Torquay councillor Ron Humphrey slammed the committee’s “veil of secrecy” over the meters.
“If they have the figures and the figures stack up then they should be showing them to the community,” he said.
“It raises doubts as to whether these figures do stack up.
“I think the whole matter of installing parking metres at the beach is absolutely disgusting. Residents should outline their outrage in letters to their local MP.”
Cr Humphrey said the committee had ignored community concerns.
“The committee operates like a secret society,” he said.
“You might have expected to find that before the Berlin Wall came down but not on the Surf Coast.”