Fishos reform finds favour with beach tenant

AN OBJECTOR to an earlier concept of a redeveloped Fishermans Beach car park has given its seal of approval to an updated plan.

Torquay Outrigger Canoe Club (TOCC) had feared it would be forced out of its present home after earlier plans to pave the overflow car park and change traffic flow left it no room to store its vessels as it does at the moment towards The Esplanade.

But updated designs have found a “workable solution” for an interim laydown area north of the Salty Dog Café car park, and away from main beach access.

An existing walkway at that end would also be widened for crews to carry boats to the water.

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority released its new designs for the popular Torquay beach earlier this month, which are now open for public consultation.

The authority has tweaked plans it first released in September last year that attracted a wave of mixed community feedback, including from the canoe club.

TOCC secretary Brian Peckham said this week the club was pleased with the authority’s co-operation to include provision for their lengthy vessels.

“As far as we’re concerned, all we need is a dedicated storage area, and it doesn’t have to be in the car park,” he said.

“It’s a workable solution, for us anyway.”

Other changes in the new plan include retaining access from the Salty Dog Café car park through to the overflow car park, after previously proposing to separate those areas, and retaining the current traffic flow that enables entry only from the north end and exit from the south end, after flirting with a dual entry-exit lane.

The new plans retain 45-degree parking and designated boat trailer spaces at the overflow car park, which would become pavement. Formalising parking would reduce overall capacity in the overflow area.

Other works identified in the project include a permanent, all-access timber walkway at the same spot as an existing temporary beach access ramp, new pedestrian paths, bicycle parking, outdoor showers, landscaping and new facilities for fishers and kayakers.

The authority’s consultation includes further information sessions on the new design in person at Fishos last Saturday (May 13) and on Sunday (May 21) from 10am-12 noon. It will also host an online information session on Wednesday (May 17).

Consultation is open until May 31. The new plans can be viewed at GORCAPA’s website.