In response to the increasing incidence of car parking on the verges on both sides of the Great Ocean Road (GOR) near the Bottom Shops following the opening of the Food Store, local traders and AIDA members contacted AIDA to raise concerns about the potential dangers to people crossing the GOR and/or exiting their cars directly onto the road. AIDA alerted the Surf Coast Shire Director of Infrastructure, but interim measures undertaken to deter this practice, including erection of temporary barriers, failed to solve the problem and continued car parking during the winter period caused significant deterioration of the road edges.
AIDA again contacted the Director of Infrastructure, suggesting that further deterrents were needed before the busy summer period. The shire planted vegetation on the verges on the Food Store side of the GOR in this area, and also painted yellow lines on both sides of the road in the direction of the Painkalac Bridge between the Foodstore and the 60 kph road signs. The situation near the Food Store has improved with the yellow lines deterring most cars from parking on the roadsides, but the major problem has simply moved upstream towards the bridge.
