Councillor Peter Murrihy urges Geelong council to rethink rules to make it tougher to commandeer parts of Eastern Beach parkland

A Geelong councillor is keeping a close eye on alleged campers at Eastern Beach, and wants City Hall to review its rules for the popular holiday spot to ensure large groups can’t take over the prized adjoining parkland space.

Greater Geelong councillor Peter Murrihy is confident no one has camped at Eastern Beach so far this summer but says City officers will need to be vigilant to ensure that continues.

He also wants the City of Greater Geelong to erect more signage about the waterfront camping ban, and rethink its local laws for the popular precinct so that officers and visitors have a clear understanding what is and is not allowed.

Cr Murrihy, a former police officer, said Eastern Beach was one of Geelong’s great drawcards for tourists, but campers were not welcome.

“Eastern Beach is supposed to be a shared facility that everyone can enjoy, and after a year dominated by COVID (19) I think we will find more and more people rediscovering it and enjoying what it has to offer this summer,” he said.

Possible illegal campers set up again at Eastern Beach over the weekend. Picture: Alan Barber

“But camping isn’t allowed, and no one wants to see campers there, or see the area constantly taken over by large tents and marquees.”

A number of groups set up large camp sites for long periods of time at Eastern Beach on Saturday and Sunday, but no fines were issued as no one was proven to have stayed overnight.

Cr Murrihy agreed none of the groups camped.

“I walk there early (about 6am) in the morning, and I’m very confident no one stayed overnight,” he said.

“Some groups do get up and about very early and set themselves up for a long day, but I didn’t see anyone that stayed through the night.”

It’s estimated Eastern Beach attracts more than 10,000 visitors on summer’s busiest days.

Camping there became a touchy subject in January.

Possible illegal campers set up again at Eastern Beach over the weekend. Picture: Alan Barber

Geelong Advertiser photographers captured images of bleary-eyed visitors emerging from tents early in the morning, and regular users alleged the interlopers were camping.

But to issue $300 fines against the offenders, CoGG needs to prove they stayed overnight, which is not always easy.

Modern camping and picnic equipment has also made it easier than ever before for groups to commandeer large parts of the precinct with tents, marquees, chairs and tables.

Ideally, it wouldn’t be necessary to restrict the size of groups, the space they take up, the equipment they use or enforce time limits on them, but Cr Murrihy said CoGG might have to modernise its rules.

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He said Eastern Beach’s charm was that it was a relaxed precinct where groups made their own fun, but visitors had to use common sense and show courtesy to others so the facilities could be enjoyed by all.

“We don’t want to see groups taking it over to the point that other people can’t use the facilities,” he said.

“I think a discussion needs to be had (at City Hall) in relation to the guidelines that presently exist for Eastern Beach.

“(In the meantime) I’m confident the staff are on high alert about what could happen this summer.”

Originally published as Councillor Peter Murrihy urges Geelong council to rethink rules to make it tougher to commandeer parts of Eastern Beach parkland