By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
THE DAYS of easy beach access and unrestricted parking are over, according to a new coastal transport report.
The draft report said users would need to accept a “cultural shift” away from the expectation that parking near local beaches was unrestricted.
“Parking is a valuable resource that must be shared fairly and equitably among visitors to the area,” the report said.
Car parking and transport faced growing pressure on the Surf Coast, which contained some of the most visited sections of beachfront in Victoria, the report said.
The draft Coastal User Transport Strategy, which consultant GHD prepared for Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC), closed for comments yesterday.
The report said the process was important and timely “given the predicted increased demand on coastal infrastructure as population on and visitation to the coast continues to increase”.
“There is poor turnover of vehicles particularly in the Torquay car parks during the busy summer periods, which leads to spill-over problems and congestion.
“Time restrictions should apply in GORCC car parks to encourage turnover.
“Some measures implemented would have impacts on Surf Coast Shire.
“Time restrictions in GORCC car parks close to employment centres may displace some commuter parking and extra capacity may need to be provided elsewhere.”
GORCC also released a plan to upgrade the Darian Rd car park in Torquay, set to lose 2400 square metres of parking space.
The area, to be re-turfed for open space, could lose about 80 informal car parks.
GORCC plans to seal an access road and turnaround, reducing formal car parks from “80 or 90” to 73, adding two disabled bays.
Vehicle control barriers and an access gate at Cowrie Rd to restrict vehicles to overflow parking in peak periods would be installed under the proposal.
Parking could come under further pressure on peak days with a longer term Surf Coast Shire plan to widen The Esplanade and establish parallel parking.
Geelong council this week painted yellow edge lines along 13th Beach Rd nominating where drivers cannot stop at the side of the road.
The move will prevent dozens of cars often parked along the busy road during peak summer periods.
Public submissions on the Darian Road car park close 6 February.
