The Bellarine Peninsula
Friday, 11 January, 2013
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Short breaks for tourists but ‘busy’ summer for peninsula’s traders By MICHELLE HERBISON THE region’s visitors are increasingly swapping traditional long summer breaks for multiple short trips, according to Geelong’s tourism authority. Geelong Otway Tourism’s Roger Grant said families were spending more time at restaurants, wineries and organised attractions and less time on casual activities. “People used to come down and virtually live on the coast for three or four weeks but now people stockpile their holidays and go overseas. They have multiple holidays throughout the year of three or four days,” Mr Grant said. Barwon Heads Traders and Tourism Association’s David Littleton said the town was busier than last year. “There are certainly a lot of people around and the town’s absolutely buzzing. Everything’s been perfect really.” Mr Littleton, who operates Seahaven Village accommodation, said Barwon Heads’ accommodation was booked out and forward bookings were “good”. Portarlington Business and Tourism Association president John Rae agreed this year was busier than the last. “We’ve had very strong trading. A couple of traders I’ve spoken to definitely have had improvements on the same time last year.” St Leonards IGA owner Jean Cowley said the new supermarket’s second summer was “fabulous” so far. “We’ve had a wonderful year.”
Jetskis ‘go crazy’ on bay WATER police are cracking down on an increase in speeding jetski drivers on the northern Bellarine Peninsula as the region’s waterways become “more crazy than usual”. Sergeant George Dixon said last weekend was one of the busiest so far, with police issuing many penalty notices to operators of personal watercrafts. “Portarlington and Indented Head had an extraordinary number of complaints in relation to operation of jetskis,” he said. The most common offences were
Residents ‘welcome’ water police crackdown exceeding the legal speed of five knots within 200m of the shore or within 50m of swimmers or other boats, Sgt Dixon said. The usual penalty was a $282 on-thespot fine. Sgt Dixon said PWCs’ “considerable horsepower” and “quick acceleration” created “real danger” to swimmers. “Some of these PWCs are three-person machines, so they weigh a consider-
able amount. The drivers have had to sit a licence, so they obviously knew the rules at the time.” Sgt Dixon said PWC operators could drive “as fast as they like” outside restricted areas. Peter Stevens Geelong sales manager Craig Wiseman confirmed sales of PWCs had increased 30 per cent in the past two to three years. “A lot of motorbike people are swapping for jetskis. Sports-bike sales have
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decreased, so I think people are looking for an alternative way to have a bit of fun,” Mr Wiseman said. He attributed the decrease in motorbike sales to stricter policing of roads. “The Great Ocean Road is not what it used to be. Jetskis are one thing that, as long as you obey the basic laws and principles, you can go flat out all day.” Mr Wiseman said PWCs could travel up to 120km/h.
Portarlington Business Development Association president John Rae said residents had “gratefully received” the presence of water police. “There appears to be a much greater abundance of jetskiiers this year but we’ve noticed the police booking people. I suspect people might be annoyed if the water police weren’t here.” The Independent reported last February that St Leonards Progress Association would lobby State Government to designate separate jetski areas away from swimmers.
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1059634-EP02-13
By MICHELLE HERBISON
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