Community
26 March, 2025
Secrecy shrouds Twelve Apostles, MP says
MEMBER for Polwarth Richard Riordan has continued his condemnation for the lack of transparency surrounding the redevelopment of the Twelve Apostles Precinct.
Mr Riordan spoke out in Parliament last Thursday, slamming the now-under-construction $126 million redevelopment which, he claims, has been “shrouded in secrecy”.
He has criticised the lack of information regarding how many car parks the centre will have, how sewer and waste management will be handled, and if the long-running helicopter tourism experience will continue.
“The Great Ocean Road region has been waiting for this project for nearly 10 years, and to think that the local Corangamite Shire, regional tourism authorities and local community don’t know what is being built for the massive amount of $126 million is outrageous,” Mr Riordan said.
“Secrecy agreements on public projects is simply not good enough.
“Tourism operators and the local community deserve to know what is being built for $126 million in their local community.
“No other company or agency could undertake such a project without community knowledge”
Mr Riordan provided Western District Newspapers with a letter he had received from Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes, in response to questions he had previously asked.
The letter, dated March 19, said the $126 million Twelve Apostles Precinct Redevelopment would deliver a world-class Visitor Experience Centre thanks to investment from both the state and federal governments.
“Once complete, the Twelve Apostles Precinct Redevelopment will enable streamlined access to nature’s greatest attractions, while protecting the environment and cultural history at this spectacular location,” the letter read.
“The new Visitor Experience Centre at the precinct will also address a number of issues and concerns raised by the community including traffic management, pedestrian safety and carparking.
“Specific operational and design details including layouts and carparking will be announced in due course and will include information regarding future food and beverage and retail outlets at the new Visitor Experience Centre.”
The letter stated the delivery of the new Visitor Experience Centre was part of the Shipwreck Coast Masterplan, which included extensive community consultation over two years with more than 300 members of the community and key stakeholders having a say.
“This engagement has also included key stakeholders such as emergency management, utilities providers and tourism operators,” the letter read.
“Once completed in late 2026, the Great Ocean Road Coast and Park Authority will operate the Visitor Experience Centre at the precinct.
“This investment will shift the perception of the Shipwreck Coast and the Twelve Apostles Precinct from a day trip destination to an overnight and multi-day visitor experience, while maintaining the region’s unique local character and reducing the impacts of increased visitation on the local community.”
Mr Riordan slammed the response as lacking in details, and had in recent weeks met with officials from the Corangamite Shire and Great Ocean Road Tourism, who expressed they had no working knowledge of the project and are unaware of any of the functioning details.
“The State Government claims to have engaged with 300 local people on this project, yet no one including the local Corangamite Shire has any idea what will be in the building and how it will work with existing businesses and tourism operators,” he said.
“The secrecy must stop.
“This is community infrastructure, not a secret military base.
“Our region has only one chance to get this right and I do not trust the Allan Government to get this project right without considered input from the local community.”
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