We posted a couple of weeks ago that some new local laws were being proposed for various areas of interest along the Surf Coast across the summer (refer to this post) - it would seem that the local laws have been passed!!

According to a post by one of the members on the community forums, the new laws (including the fines for being in the dunes at Pt Impossible) were passed at the Council meeting on Tuesday 28 October.

We are supporters of these laws for the entire Surf Coast - they will help make all beaches cleaner, safer, and more tourist friendly!! We just happen to like the fact that it is good for Pt Impossible as well!!

Here are the specifics:

Smoke Free Areas:
Clause 4.12 - A Smoke Free Beaches law will ban the act of smoking on all beaches (sand areas) in the Surf Coast Shire. The inclusion of this clause is in the interests of the health of our local community and environment.
In introducing this regulation, Council and the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) will work
together to ensure that areas are clearly identified and appropriate infrastructure is provided, eg: ashtrays, butt bins, etc, to encourage positive compliance with the ban.
A $100 on the spot fine will be applicable with maximum penalties to be determined by court process.

Glass Free areas:
Clause 4.13 - Glass Free ban – banning of glass on all beaches (sand area) in the Surf Coast Shire.
Council’s primary objective for including this clause in the Local Law is to ensure public safety.
A $100 on the spot fine will be applicable with maximum penalties to be determined by court process.
Council currently has in place “no alcohol in public places” and the glass free ban is considered a positive extension to this requirement.

Designated Glass Free Areas:
Clause 4.13(1)(b) has been included designating three foreshore areas along the coast in Torquay,
Anglesea and Lorne that will be “glass free” for a specific period from November of each year to the end of January the following year.
Council has considered the request from Council’s Glass Free Working Group, which is a sub-group of the Community Impact Advisory Committees (CIAC) and comprises representatives of the Victoria Police, Great Ocean Road Coast Committee, businesses and Surf Coast Shire staff, seeking to include Designated Glass Free Areas in Torquay, Anglesea and Lorne during November of each year and through to the end of January in the following year.

Prohibited Areas:
Clause 4.14 – This clause will declare all sand dune areas of beaches throughout the Shire be prohibited areas. This would apply to all fenced sand dune areas and, where an area is unfenced, the entire sand dune from the toe (or bottom) of the primary sand dune, being that sand which is closest to the sea.
A $100 on the spot fine will be applied to this activity with maximum penalties to be determined by court process.

These three main inclusions to the Local Law will require an education and media campaign to highlight the changes to the wider community and relevant officers from all authorities need to discuss the implementation and enforcement of a ban on smoking and glass on beaches and designated areas within the Shire.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 at 8:19 pm and is filed under Beaches, Pt Impossible. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.