A PLAN to roll-out a permit system at Green Hill Lake and similar sites for campers has yet to be implemented, despite it being announced 12 months ago.
Ararat Rural City Council announced the plan in December 2018, but did not specify a roll-out deadline.
However, Green Hill Lake Management Board president Gwenda Allgood said the plan had been held up.
Under the proposed system campers intending to stay for more than 72 hours would need to obtain a cost free permit, which would be valid for 28 days.
Campers would then be able to apply for another permit after the 28 days expired.
The plan was designed to discourage long-term campers who may stay at these sites for months at a time.
Ararat council chief executive Tim Harrison said the roll-out had been held up by some administrative processes.
"We had to pass a new local law around this, and we had to work out how to manage a new permit process," he said.
"It's a matter of fine tuning it a bit and make sure it all works well in terms of legislation, but you've got to get those things right."
The local law has since been updated.
"We updated the local law a couple of months ago, and we've just been working with our local law staff to work out the best way to implement it," Dr Harrison said.
"There have been a few conversations to work out who is going to manage the permits and who is going to manage the campers.
"In a couple of weeks into the new year we'll have that rolled out and then we'll have the capacity to deal with people who are over-stayers, because that is the big concern."
The Green Hill Lake Development Board is also working on projects to improve the lake, Mrs Allgood said.
The Board recently had a meeting with council to review its Memorandum of Understanding.
"What we want is to get the (eastern side) of Green Hill Lake all fixed up ... we want to investigate solar energy.
"We always wanted to get the road sealed, because it's becoming a really big place for people with families, and we've got kids on bikes everywhere.
"If you've got sealed roads you can keep vans and cars on them and leave the other areas for kids."
Traffic was increasing as the site's popularity rose as a cost-free camping spot, Mrs Allgood said.
"More rubbish bins - that's essential," she said.
"People have been dumping things out there like mattresses and fridges, but now with the (newly installed) security cameras we can see who is doing it."
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