Traders ensure “last hurrah for the tourist season” drives on

OCEAN Grove traders say the City of Greater Geelong “completely dropped the ball” by allowing the installation of a telecommunications tower in their shopping centre car park during the “last hurrah for the tourist season”.

Ty Simons, Ocean Grove Business Association president and owner of Driftwood, said what traders described as “The Great Easter Carpark Debacle” saw close to 60 car parks lost last Thursday, and would have seen 22 car parks taken up for 21 days if action wasn’t taken.

He said Ocean Grove was the busiest and largest town on the Bellarine, and tourism and the ripple effect it had on the local economy was vital, and any disruption to that was unacceptable.

Since last week when the traders first became aware of the works starting, the association has been in discussion with the company managing the installation of the tower about how best to manage the disruption to the car park during school holidays.

OGBA committee member Cathy Staehr said the contractors had been very accommodating once they were aware of the impact.

“We actually can’t fault the response of the project managers they have gone out of their way to help us.

“The council owes them a huge thank you, as this situation has been handled effectively and pleasantly by the contractors.

“This did, and would have continued to, affect all our local business owners and all local shoppers.
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“This of course also directly affects our tourism and has an ongoing ripple effect.”

Ms Staehr said the OGBA had negotiated less space to be taken up, so less car parks were lost.

“The planned 22 car parks for three weeks is now 10 car parks for four days and then down to about four car parks for the remainder of the works – this is a huge improvement.”

She said thanks to the OGBA, the tower was installed Monday evening and the container on site removed on Tuesday.

“This will reduce the impact on locals and local business during the school holidays, and will ensure our tourists are not affected,” she said.

Bookgrove owner Stacey Moore said she was appalled at the lack of communication and transparency with COGG in regard to the work that was taking place.

“Ocean Grove businesses rely on tourism and are anticipating a great April School holiday period which incorporates Easter before the path of a long cold winter.

“This is our last chance to build on our sales before the decline in tourism numbers takes place.”

City of Greater Geelong director of city services Guy Wilson-Browne said as a condition of the permit issued to install the telecommunications tower, the contractors were required to undertake 1a letter drop to traders impacted by the loss of car park space during the installation.

“We will be working with the contractor to ensure that works are either completed in time or put on hold to minimise any impact on the car park over the Easter period.”