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Horses permitted to stay on beach

Horses, dogs and people alike will be free to enjoy the beach along Corinella Foreshore, with Bass Coast Shire Council introducing a trial system to suit everyone at the June Ordinary Meeting.

By Portal Admin - 26th June 2017 - Back to News

Council, on behalf of the Corinella Foreshore Committee of Management, will introduce a trial permit system as of 1 December 2017, with horse riders who wish to use the beach requiring a permit to do so.

The horse-friendly beach is a popular area for riders, with Council receiving a petition containing 1,004 signatures early this year opposed to any bans on horses on the Corinella Foreshore following some concerns regarding safety and horse activity impacting on the beach and car park at the end of Norsemens Road in Coronet Bay.

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, said Council believes the introduction of the permit system will help everyone to enjoy the beach, whilst keeping the car park and access track free from horse manure and preventing inappropriate horse riding behaviours.

"To remove horse access all together would impact heavily on both horse trainers and recreational riders who have enjoyed and benefited from beach access for as long as anyone can remember," Cr Rothfield said.

"The Committee of Management have indicated that it would like horses to be able to continue to use the beach, but with some restrictions."

All horse riders wanting to use the beach will require a permit and Public Liability Insurance, and will be required to remove all horse manure from the car park and beach access track.

Council will also provide improved access to the beach at the end of Norsemens Road by either constructing an additional track, or updating the current one to separate horses and pedestrians.

From 1 December 2017 for a trial period of two years:

No horses will be allowed to use the beach on Christmas Day to New Year’s Day inclusive; Australia Day; and Easter Long Weekend

Professional Trainers will be permitted to use the beach from 4.30am to 9.30am during the Victorian Summer and Easter Public School Holidays, excluding the previous days mentioned

Recreation riders and pony Clubs will be permitted to use the beach from 9.30am to 11.00am during the Victorian Summer and Easter Public School Holidays, excluding the previous days mentioned

At all other times horses are permitted on the beach as long as they have a valid permit.

Council also set the annual fee schedule for the permits, being:

$500 for Professional Trainers residing in Bass Coast Shire and registered with Racing Victoria

$2,500 for Professional Trainers not residing in Bass Coast Shire and registered with Racing Victoria

$1,000 for Pony Clubs that don’t reside in Bass Coast Shire (maximum of 5 riders at one time)

$75 for recreational riders not residing in Bass Coast Shire

Pony Clubs (maximum five riders) and recreational riders residing in Bass Coast Shire require a permit, but will not be charged a fee

For more information contact:

Simone Short

media communications officer

t (03) 5671 2703 | f (03) 5671 2222 | m 0400 804 187

e simone.short@basscoast.vic.gov.au

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com