Great Ocean Road Action Plan

Foreword:

The Great Ocean Road Action Plan was unveiled by the Minister for Energy, Environment & Climate Change Lily D'Ambrosio and the Minister for Tourism & Major Events John Eren standing alongside Eastern Maar and Wadawurrung representatives at Lorne. Major reforms detailed in the Action Plan include:

• stand-alone legislation that recognises and protects the coast, parks and scenic landscapes along the Road as the 'one integrated and living entity'

• a dedicated (statutory) coast and parks agency with an independent, skills-based board, to manage - and be publicly accountable for - the protection of the environment, sustainable visitation and delivery of government investment

• development of a community vision with a long term outlook and overarching strategic framework plan for the length of the Great Ocean Road

• a better planning approvals process.

The Great Ocean Road Action Plan follows the 26 recommendations made by the Great Ocean Road Taskforce's independent Co-Chairs - former state transport ministers the Hon Peter Batchelor and the Hon Terry Mulder - who carefully considered the community feedback provided earlier this year in face to face conversations with 780 people, and in 570 survey responses and submissions.