The right track: State dumps elevated pathway from Bells management plan

THE controversial elevated pathway proposed for Bells Beach is no more, after the state government refused to give the green light to a management plan for the reserve if it included the pathway.

Local campaigners have praised the decision but continue to urge specific planning protection to preserve the natural state of Bells Beach.

The plans for a 60-metre timber pathway above an existing path were added to the Surf Coast Shire council’s Bells Beach Surfing Recreation Reserve Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP) 2015-25 in 2019.

After backlash from parts of the community, the council decided it would install a temporary elevated pathway for the 2020 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and reassess whether to build a permanent structure afterwards.

However, the council’s plans were delayed when the World Surf League (WSL) announced the cancellation of the event due to COVID-19.

On Wednesday last week, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio announced she had approved the CMMP “subject to the removal of the proposed elevated walkway and viewing platform,” and agreed with an advisory committee that there was no pressing or overwhelming need for a permanent elevated platform.

In a statement, the state government said the committee found event organisers “were neutral about whether a permanent or temporary structure was needed”.

The WSL dropped their support for the pathway in September 2020.

Surfrider Foundation Surf Coast branch secretary Darren Noyes-Brown said the state government’s decision was in keeping with the philosophy of the reserve.

“Past consultations have found everyone wants to keep it as it is – no more buildings, no more infrastructure, maintain what we’ve got, of course. Just keep it natural and undeveloped, basically,” he said.

“If there’s a problem with this footpath, the two little cracks; well, it’s stood up pretty well in 45 years.

“If they need to replace a couple of panels of concrete, go ahead and do it – it’s going to be a lot less expensive than building a $180,000 timber and stainless steel platform for an overseas company that would be closed to the public when the contest is on at Winki Pop.”

Long-time Bells Beach advocate Maurice Cole said those opposed to the platform had been against it for more than two years, but the fight to protect Bells from development was not over.

“I’d hate to think of the money we’ve spent, tens of thousands of dollars, the stress levels and the work we’ve put in.

“They will try again; the battle will continue. The question is: why will the state government or the Surf Coast Shire not consider the idea of protecting Bells for perpetuity? Why not just leave it as it is? Why do we have to keep fighting? Why have we created an us-and-them situation between the community, the council and the state government?”

The Surf Coast Shire council said it welcomed the state government’s approval of the CMMP.

“The CMMP approved by the minister therefore aligns with council’s November 2019 resolution that no decision on the proposed elevated pathway be made without a trial of a temporary structure,” shire general manager of environment and development Ransce Salan said.