Mornington Peninsula camping: Rye, Rosebud, Sorrento opens January 2
Campsites at Rye, Rosebud and Sorrento will reopen earlier than expected but not everyone will get a spot. And there are strict rules for those who do.
South East
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Foreshore camping at Rye, Rosebud and Sorrento will open on 2 January 2021 but not all bookings will be honoured.
More than 200 people are likely to miss out on spots as only 80 per cent of the sites will be activated.
Campers who had pre-booked will be contacted to determine if they want to keep their place.
No casual bookings would be accepted.
Mornington Peninsula Shire announced on Friday that recent changes to rules around outdoor gatherings had made it possible for the campgrounds to reopen.
Previously the shire had planned on opening the sites in February after ruling it would not be safe to start the season on December 19.
Shire chief executive John Baker said the new date of January 2 was chosen because of ongoing concerns about the intermingling of beach goers and campers.
“We determined that the large numbers of people who gather on the beach between Christmas and New year, plus New Year’s Eve activities posed a significant risk of over crowding in and around the campgrounds,” Mr Baker said.
“We have been cautious with our deliberations and believe we have reached the right balance between public safety and allowing the camping season to continue”.
Earlier this month the council said it was considering fencing the 13km of campgrounds to prevent other beachgoers from accessing the sites.
Mr Baker said campers would need to follow a COVID-safe plan that included a guest register for each site and capped numbers at shared facilities and also wear masks where appropriate.
They were also being encouraged to pack light and limit the use of extra equipment and kit to maintain a clear distance between sites.
The shire will introduce extra cleaning of toilet and shower blocks.
Mr Baker said the shire would continue to monitor the advice from the chief health officer and update campers and the community if circumstances change.
