Authority

A dedicated public land and parks manager, the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, has been established with the primary purpose of protecting and managing visitation of the Great Ocean Road coast and parks.

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority is established by the Great Ocean Road and Environs Protection Act 2020 and commenced operations on 1 December 2020.

The Authority was initially appointed as the committee of management for the coastal reserves formerly managed by Great Ocean Road Coast Committee and Otway Coast Committee. Over the next few years, the Authority will expand its functions and scale up its operations in order to take on responsibility for managing public land and parks within the Great Ocean Road coast and parks by 1 November 2025.

Visit the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority website

The inaugural Board and Chair of the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority was appointed following a public competitive recruitment process.

• Ms Libby Mears (Chair)
• Mr Peter Dorling (Deputy Chair)
• Associate Professor Dr Daniel lerodiaconou
• Mr David Pope
• Mr Douglas Humann AM
• Mr Jason Mifsud
• Ms Christine Wyatt
• Ms Jenny McMahon
• Ms Jodie Leonard
• Ms Sarah Eccles
• Ms Terry Bracks AM

DELWP is working closely with the Authority, Parks Victoria, five councils, and other committees of management to plan and prepare for a smooth transfer of land management responsibilities over the next three years. A consistent approach to land and asset management transfers is being developed with the Authority and current land managers. This approach involves extensive mapping of cultural, social, environmental and economic values and uses, as well as capturing the community interest and local significance attached to each parcel and asset.

All leases, licenses and permits granted by current Crown land managers will continue in their current form, and are not altered by the change in management arrangements (other than the name of the land manager).

Councils can continue to support community groups, facilities and the environment of public open spaces and local community infrastructure.

The public land currently managed by the Authority can viewed on their website.