Boats, kids in: row on safety

AN ugly brawl has erupted over beachgoer safety at Torquay’s Fishermans Beach.
Torquay Angling Club boss Steve Burton and Great Ocean Road Coastal Committee chief Richard Davies have locked horns over concerns about boats and swimmers mixing at the busy beach.
Mr Burton also accused the committee of failing to heed repeated warnings about the dangers of encouraging beachgoers to park “at their peril” in an area where anglers parked vehicles with boat trailers.
Mr Burton suggested the committee was risking the lives of children using the beach amid boats and vehicles.
Fishermans Beach’s boat ramp area has become increasingly busy over the past few years, with the committee recently adding a community room and a kiosk to the site.
Mr Burton said forecasts of an influx of new residents at Torquay and nearby Armstrong Creek would add thousands of additional water users to the Surf Coast.
“It’s an infrastructure issue,’’ he said.
“Torquay has a burgeoning population. You can’t leave it as a backwater, you’ve got to do some serious work and the first thing is to make the (boat launching area) a restricted zone.
“What a lot of people don’t understand is that you have 30 to 40 metres of dry sand to cover when retrieving boats and this has to be done at speed.
“This will be an issue of life and death for somebody.’’
Mr Davies said signs at the site warned of the dangers.
Marine Safety Victoria had been invited to check the precinct to ensure safety aspects were covered, he said.
“The (coastal) committee takes its responsibility very seriously about public safety and risk management,’’ he said.
“Appropriate signage is in place and we’re arranging additional signage as well – that is already in train.’’
Mr Davies said the committee was aware the area would continue attracting more users.
“We have to be very mindful of anglers and beachgoers and that they’re aware – it’s incumbent on everyone.’’ Mr Davies said the car park was limited to anglers with boat trailers on weekends.