{"id":7986,"date":"2018-02-21T21:10:19","date_gmt":"2018-02-21T10:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/?p=7986"},"modified":"2018-02-23T09:35:33","modified_gmt":"2018-02-22T22:35:33","slug":"aida-urges-henderson-drop-campaign-arch-toilets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/news\/aida-urges-henderson-drop-campaign-arch-toilets\/","title":{"rendered":"AIDA urges Henderson to drop campaign for arch toilets"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE Aireys Inlet and District Association (AIDA) has urged Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson to stop her campaign for toilets at the Memorial Arch on the Great Ocean Road.<\/p>\n

Ms Henderson has been calling for at least two years for toilet blocks to be installed at the arch in Eastern View \u2013 a popular photo opportunity for visitors travelling along the road \u2013 to improve the tourist experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Great Ocean Road is one of the world\u2019s great tourism experiences and it is embarrassing and untenable that visitors are going to the toilet in the bushes,\u201d Ms Henderson said in October.<\/p>\n

However, toilets at the arch is contrary to the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC)\u2019s plan for the site.<\/p>\n

According to GORRC\u2019s option paper for the master plan being developed for the arch, people toileting in the nearby dunes and residential areas is recognised as a major issue, but none of the three potential development options include toilet facilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs well as there being little infrastructure or capacity, feedback from community and agencies suggests there is little support for installing public toilets at the site,\u201d the paper states.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe strategic direction taken is that it would be better to direct visitors and tour companies to existing public toilets along the Great Ocean Road to address the current issue at the site.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a letter to Ms Henderson sent last week and seen by this newspaper, AIDA president Charlotte Allen wrote that the association strongly supported a consultant\u2019s report that ruled out toilets.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would like to think that you, as the area\u2019s elected member, was also representing the views of our community, and AIDA was therefore surprised and alarmed to be told that you are still advocating installation of public toilet facilities on the Great Ocean Road at the Memorial Arch site.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur members have always sought to maintain the natural and low-key nature of our part of the Great Ocean Road \u2013 so different from other towns along this coast \u2013 and see the impact of what would surely be a large and unsightly installation as detrimental to this.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is not the first time AIDA and Ms Henderson have been on opposite sides of an issue \u2013 AIDA also criticised Ms Henderson\u2019s support in 2016 for a full-sized oval in the Painkalac Valley, and took exception to the MP\u2019s characterisation of Aireys Inlet \u201cnot (being) God\u2019s waiting ground any more\u201d.<\/p>\n

AIDA’s full letter is below:<\/p>\n

Dear Ms Henderson<\/p>\n

re: Facilities at the Memorial Arch, Eastern View<\/p>\n

I am writing to you as President of the Aireys Inlet and District Association (AIDA) \u2013 a community group which has been an entity for over 50 years and which represents the views of its 450 members and their families. You may recall meeting with some AIDA committee members last year prior to your meeting with the wider community.<\/p>\n

We would like to think that you, as the area\u2019s elected Member, was also representing the views of our community, and AIDA was therefore surprised and alarmed to be told that you are still advocating installation of public toilet facilities on the Great Ocean Road at the Memorial Arch site.<\/p>\n

As you are aware, a community and stakeholders committee has been established to investigate the Memorial Arch site and its future in light of the continuing increase in tourist numbers and the impact this is having on the site itself and the local community \u2013 those who live close to the site, and those in the community who may or may not benefit from the tourist influx. Meetings have been held since November 2016 and community feedback has been sought through an initial survey and ongoing through the committee process.<\/p>\n

This consultant\u2019s report arising from both this survey and discussion with the community and stakeholders groups recommended that no toilet facilities be installed at the Memorial Arch site. Their reasons are as follows:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the local context, the site:<\/p>\n