New rules to protect Mornington Peninsula campers from Covid
Extra security is being rolled out to protect campers from the virus this summer. Here’s how it will work.
South East
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Campers will be assigned toilets and need a secret code to gain access at Mornington Peninsula foreshore sites this summer.
The measure is part of a plan to create “camping bubbles’ at council managed campgrounds at Rosebud, Rye and Sorrento.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Property and Commercial Services manager Nathan Kearsley said the bubbles would help with contact tracing.
“Amenity block codes will be issued on a section by section basis so there is a different code for each block, issued only to users in that camping section,” he said.
The blocks would be cleaned three times a day and QR check ins required.
Mr Kearsley confirmed the council hoped to open campgrounds on November 5 when people were allowed to travel to holiday accommodation.
The opening date was subject to change based on government restrictions in place at the time and advice from the Health Department and the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning.
Campgrounds managed by the shire did not open in time for Christmas in 2020 because of fears social distancing, density quotients and group sizes could not be managed.
At the time Mornington Peninsula Shire chief executive John Baker said the main concern was virus transmission in shower and toilet blocks.
He also suggested that the only way to make the sites Covid-safe was to fence them to keep beachgoers away.
The foreshore campsites did not open until January 2 in 2021 and a black market was created with locals offering spots on private land for up to $300 a night.
The following month the council abruptly shut the campgrounds and evicted campers on February 12 when circuit breaker restrictions were announced.
Meanwhile, caravan parks and camp grounds in regional Victoria are already allowed to open to regional guests but many were waiting until next month to start the season.
Phillip Island’s Anchorage Park owner Stewart Hilton said he planned to open for the Melbourne Cup long weekend.
Despite a steady flow of bookings for the summer season the Ventnor park was not charging a deposit.
“There’s so much uncertainty about what will happen and when,” he said.
“I took a booking this morning for four sites over six days.
“But it’s a back-up plan for the travellers. They are waiting to see if the borders open and if they do the booking will be cancelled.”
Mr Hamilton said it wasn’t clear what restrictions would be in place for campgrounds and caravan parks this summer.
“I don’t know if we can only accept guests who have been fully vaccinated,” he said.
“It would be very hard to police. People have visitors come to their sites and many don’t bother to check in at the office first.”
Lang Lang Foreshore Caravan Park owner Cathy Fyfe said the park had strong bookings from November onwards but she was waiting until the start of the month before taking deposits.
The park had stayed open for essential workers and “homeless travellers” during Lockdown 6.0.
Ms Fyfe was also waiting for further advice from the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning about possible restrictions the park would need to enforce once Greater Melbourne exited lockdown.
“All I know at this stage is that we can’t take group bookings. We have to have details of who is staying on each site for contact tracing.”