Petition on access to Killarney beaches gains ground

Started by Killarney resident Viva-Lyn Lenehan, the petition is aiming to overturn a state government plan to implement a “conservation zone” at Armstrong Bay beaches.

Under the draft Belfast Coastal Reserve Management Plan, dogs and recreational horses would not be allowed on the beach from the Killarney boat ramp east to Big Baldy to help protect local fauna and flora, including the vulnerable hooded plover.

Some residents have also expressed concern that the plan would close off beach access points at Towilla Way and Gormans Lane at Killarney.

Ms Lenehan said she hoped the planned “conservation zone” would be downgraded to a “conservation-recreation zone”, which would allow for dog walking and recreational horse riding, with restrictions.

Ms Lenehan described the plan as a “loss of liberty”.

“By closing off the beaches and sand tracks to the main user groups, you are essentially removing a major recreational reserve, and thereby greatly diminishing the health and well-being of the wider community,” she said.

“This is a sudden change of direction with the aim to shut down the beaches from historical use, close off favourite walking tracks, and lay down arbitrary boundaries to dictate to us where we can go and what we can do when we get there.”

Ms Lenehan said concerned residents would also be meeting with Moyne Shire councillors on Tuesday to discuss the potential closure of beach access at Towilla Way.

The petition can be found here. Submissions to the draft management plan can be made at https://engage.vic.gov.au/belfast  until March 16.

Vulnerable wildlife on the region’s beaches will not survive without better management of human impacts, environmental advocates fear.

Killarney Coastcare and Far West Friends of the Hooded Plover’s Toni Ryan has hit back at concerns from some residents over the Belfast Coastal Reserve draft plan’s proposal to impose a “conservation zone” that would ban dogs and recreational horse riding from beaches stretching from the Killarney boat ramp to Big Baldy, near Warrnambool.

“Yes, I agree that under a final plan local people may have to go a few more minutes to a nearby beach to walk their dogs/ride recreational horses, but that is not the same as being stopped from the activity.     Inconvenience is not the same thing  as being stopped,” she said.

“The conservation plan introduced into the draft management plan is concerned about the wildlife and managing the human recreation impacts. Belfast Coastal Reserve is not just about humans, but there is a need to balance human activity.

“Every summer it is increasingly inundated with dogs (unleashed, as there are no rules) from nearby Warrnambool and Port Fairy (who do have coast management plans), and also Koroit, Dennington and particularly by visiting tourist dogs, simply most of them are there because there is a lack of regulation.”

The lifelong Killarney resident said allowing racehorse training on beaches within the reserve, including Killarney’s main beach, remained one of the biggest threats.

“The lack of management has seen horses (particularly racehorses) and dogs impact on all of the nesting species along the beaches of the reserve. This is now a critical factor in their survival… we have shorebirds, dune birds and waterbirds vulnerable to being wiped out,” she said.

“The reserve cannot sustain the local wildlife without proper management of the human impacts and reversing the decision to allow horses to train over 25 per cent of the beaches.”

Monitoring of dunes had also shown significant damage within a short space of time, Ms Ryan said, including to ancient midden sites.

Ms Ryan said she applauded “genuine conservation efforts” within the draft management plan, but said she would continue to lobby against racehorse training on beaches.

“I believe that the impacts of people using the beaches need to be addressed and managed for the wildlife hanging on in this very small conservation reserve,” she said.