Call for maximum trail access in river masterplan

AN Ocean Grove resident says river management authorities must ensure locals have maximum access to river walking trails as planning continues for the region’s famous waterways.

Long-term management of the Barwon River and its surrounding environment is subject of a masterplan now in development from the state government, with a draft plan out for consultation.

Local resident Warren Chapman has urged community members to have their say on the plan to ensure the areas are enjoyed for future generations.

He said his concerns especially applied to walking trails around Ocean Grove Spit, now formally known as Bukareeyoo, and ensuring residents retained access to the popular areas in the masterplan.

The draft masterplan prioritises measures from the Barwon Coast Caravan and Camping Parks Master Plan, which is yet to be publicly released, ahead of proposed community walking trails.

Mr Chapman said the plan should ensure Bellarine residents could continue walking the existing and new trails despite the enduring popularity of riverside camping and other uses.

“If we can’t use everything ourselves today, we’ve got to really think of that intergenerational equity and think to the future.

“We need things for ourselves, but we want to be sure that the future enjoys them as much and we can even leave them better.”

Mr Chapman said he acknowledged the need to balance other priorities at the site, including tourism benefits of riverside campsites and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners heritage at the site.

But he said future planning must strike a balance between the needs of the area’s growing community.

“Ocean Grove is around 18,000 [people], it’s going to be much larger.

“And then we’ve got Armstrong Creek and other areas on the northern Bellarine.

“The river estuary in itself is very important and we understand it is culturally for the Aboriginal people. There’s heritage sites on Bukareeyoo.

“It’s the case of trying to find that way that we all can enjoy the river and the experience.”

The Victorian government is presently developing a masterplan for the lower Moorabool and lower Barwon river corridors.

The plan is called Kitjarra-dja-bul Bullarto langi-ut – translating to “place of many stories” in Wadawurrung language – and covers an area that stretches from Golden Plains through Geelong and to the estuary at Barwon Heads.

The government says its plan aims to balance public access, recreation, economic opportunities and education while enhancing the area’s unique cultural and environmental values.

Consultation on the masterplan is open until August 14 at Engage Victoria’s website.