Colac Otway Shire Council is backing community calls to exclude large tour coaches from Kennett River following “long-standing concerns” from residents.
Kennett River residents have requested buses allowed through be capped at a certain size in order to reduce congestion, improve parking and road safety, and limit the impact of tourism on local wildlife.
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The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, who is overseeing the City Deals project in Kennett River, requested that Council make this request to the Department of Transport and Planning to exclude large tour coaches, which the council has supported.
Mayor Jason Schram says residents have been asking for these changes for years.
“Excluding large coaches would address long standing concerns by the community and address the impacts of tourism on Kennett River,” Schram says.
“The move would have little negative impact on trade in Kennett River. Coaches often stop for a toilet break at Kennett River, but it is commonly understood that tour bus passengers rarely spend money in Kennett River while there.”
The council will also request bollards and signage on the Great Ocean Road near Kennett River to prohibit large tourist coaches from parking on the Great Ocean Road itself.
The proposed traffic control would not prohibit smaller buses or regular vehicles from visiting Kennett River and follows temporary changes made to parking at Kennett River over summer to formalise parking and deter motorists from parking in inappropriate locations.
The removal of larger coach parking in Kennett River would increase the availability of parking for other vehicles and reduce the number of visitors in public areas around the shop and caravan park area.
“It is these areas where the community has expressed the most concern about visitors walking across the road and viewing local wildlife, conflicting with traffic using these roads,” Schram says.
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