Lorne’s cheers to dining rule change

LORNE Aquatic and Angling Club’s beer garden is set to return for summer after the state government changed its rules to allow leasing businesses to add outdoor dining extensions to their properties.

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority last week announced a tweak to legislation that would allow Crown land managers to apply for permits for outdoor dining on adjoining public open space.

The rule change came into effect last week and will last until September 2023.GORCAPA had previously allowed temporary exceptions for outdoor dining during COVID restrictions, but that permission expired at the end of June.

LAAC had campaigned this year to retain its popular “Outer Sanctum” outdoor space that is said had proved invaluable to its surging membership during the pandemic, but had initially failed and dismantled the extension in August after the exception ended.

LAAC commodore Keith Miller said he was “extremely happy” with the rule change, with the club confident it would have its Outer Sanctum up and running again soon.

“We have just been given our beloved Outer Sanctum back for 12 months, which is wonderful news,” the club stated late last week.

“We’ll update you when the space is back up and running again!”

The authority said its change ahead of summer would help local businesses “manage and make the most of the likely increase in patronage”.

“Like the hospitality industry across Victoria and Australia, Great Ocean Road restaurants and cafes suffered more than most other businesses during the pandemic,” GORCAPA chief executive officer Jodie Sizer said.

“Hospitality is a major employer along the Great Ocean Road and this outdoor dining permit is one way of helping this vital industry continue to recover.

“The other winners of this new regulation are the millions of visitors we expect on the Great Ocean Road this summer, offering more capacity in a setting renowned the world over for its natural beauty.”

Labor candidate for Polwarth Hutch Hussein welcomed the news this week.

“The Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club is a huge part of our community – I’m pleased to have advocated to keep their Outer Sanctum cafe open,” said.

“From the busy [Melbourne] Cup weekend to the upcoming summer tourism period, outdoor hospitality will create jobs and drive more people to our beautiful region.”

Incumbent Liberal MP Richard Riordan criticised the government agency’s handling of the lease negotiations earlier this year.