The report said tour companies provided drinks and food for passengers on coaches, and they also stopped at Kennett River to use the public toilets rather than spending money in the hamlet’s shop.
Kennett River Community Action Group co-founder Jules Lin welcomed the move to have large buses banned in the hamlet.
Kennett River residents Elenore Lannigan (second from right) and Jules Lin amid the tourists.Credit: Joe Armao
“Now we’re asking [the Department of Transport and Planning] to listen to community sentiment,” she said. “Anything over a 22-seater is not appropriate in that tiny precinct due to heavy pedestrian traffic.”
The 2021 census reported Kennett River had a population of just 74. However, its caravan park is popular with holidaymakers.
Colac Otway Shire Mayor Jason Schram said the Kennett River community had been calling for a ban on large buses for a long time even though the region relied on tourism to survive.
“But it’s got to be done sustainably,” he said.
Making the most of a photo opportunity in the hamlet.Credit: Joe Armao
The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority’s draft precinct plan proposes upgrades for Kennett River, including to its car park, which are designed to prevent ad hoc parking.
“The draft precinct plan does not allow large tour-operator coaches to enter or stop within the precinct,” it says.
The plan’s traffic summary forecasts the number of visitors per day at Kennett River would drop from 1941 currently to 892 by 2036, factoring in coach bans and reduced parking spaces and durations.
A spokeswoman for the authority said the draft precinct plan aimed to improve safety, traffic flow and the visitor experience while preserving the unique character of Kennett River.
“This approach is based on extensive community input, with the draft plan currently open for community consultation,” she said. “We are working with the relevant authorities to determine the process to implement appropriate restrictions.”
The Age sent questions to the Department of Transport and Planning, including asking whether it would be possible to implement the requested ban and what other measures might be considered.
The department’s Barwon south-west and Grampians executive director, Michael Bailey, said: “We are working with [the] council to determine the best outcome for Kennett River residents, wildlife and tourists.”
Great Ocean Road Communities Network chair Peter Christoff supported banning large coaches.
Residents of the Great Ocean Road have raised concerns about increasing traffic volumes. Credit: Ken Irwin
“I think it’s both viable and necessary, particularly in a hamlet the size of Kennett River,” he said. “It’s unsuitable to have large volumes of people coming through there.”
Christoff said the Great Ocean Road could not accommodate such large traffic volumes, but projections of rising visitor numbers would put more pressure on the road.
“Now is the time to address that problem.”
He said authorities should consider some form of tolls as well as significantly higher fees for tour operators to use the road.
“But one would need to think carefully about the implications of putting tolls on the road for other holiday users coming down from Melbourne.”
Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism was contacted for comment.
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