General News
17 October, 2023
Land management changes
CORANGAMITE Shire Council will retain management of the Port Campbell Public Reserve going forward amidst a change in land management along the Great Ocean Road.
CORANGAMITE Shire Council will retain management of the Port Campbell Public Reserve going forward amidst a change in land management along the Great Ocean Road.
In 2020 the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (the Authority) was established in a bid to provide better protection and management of the coast and parks of the Great Ocean Road.
At the September Ordinary Meeting of Council, shire manager facilities and recreation Jarrod Woff said the Authority and Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) have been
working with council collaboratively to ensure a successful transition of land management.
He said there were four parcels council currently manages under delegation from DEECA to be transferred to the Authority while the Port Campbell Public Purpose Reserve will remain under council management.
The four council managed parcels to be transferred to the Authority are:
• Corner of Great Ocean Road and Port Campbell-Cobden Road;
• Headland Reserve;
• War memorial/car park; and
• Old Great Ocean Road on headland.
Mr Woff said there were a number of facilities which were co-located on the Port Campbell Public Purpose Reserve which included the skatepark, public toilets, community arts space and tennis courts.
“The reserve provides important community infrastructure which supports a range of community activities, events and connectivity,” he said.
“The transfer of this parcel to the Authority would not overly impact community connectivity and active recreational use of the space, however there was a possibility that it could impact events with permit requirements imposed and the unknown of capital investment back into maintaining the assets to the current standard.
“DEECA has since reviewed the parcel and identified that they should be left in the current arrangements as they are locally important community infrastructure rather than supporting tourism associated with the Great Ocean Road and parks.
“Council has agreed the best outcome for the community is for the current management arrangements to remain.”
Mr Woff said further to the Crown land council manages, there were a number of parcels overseen by other Crown land managers including Parks Victoria and Crown land committees of management.
Other assets include:
• Port Campbell Recreation Reserve;
• Princetown Recreation Reserve;
• Port Campbell Caravan Park;
• Port Campbell Surf Life Saving Club;
• Port Campbell Transfer Station; and
• Port Campbell Rifle Range.
“DEECA and the Authority are working with relevant Crown land managers to oversee the transfer of these Crown land parcels,” Mr Woff said.
He said an engagement plan had been developed by the Authority to ensure the relevant land managers and the community were kept informed about the parcels being transferred and timelines.
Councillor Kate Makin said she was pleased the current arrangements would remain for the Port Campbell Public Reserve.
“I’m sure (GORCAPA) will manage these parcels of land quite well,” she said.