GORCAPA starts land transfer process at Anglesea

ANGLESEA and Aireys Inlet will be the first Great Ocean Road communities to have their community assets transferred to the region’s new public land manager, with public consultation on the changes under way.

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) has begun meeting with affected community groups and will consult more broadly with residents starting this weekend.

Anglesea stakeholders have convened a series of meetings in recent weeks amid concerns about how the change will impact their usual events and activities.

The Authority insists users will not experience any change to the way they use the affected areas.

GORCAPA representatives were part of the most recent meeting on Thursday last week, and CEO Jodie Sizer said this week that the authority looked forward to continuing engagement in coming weeks.

“We are committed to working closely with the community and stakeholders to understand their current interests and future aspirations for the area.

“The Anglesea and Aireys Inlet communities are passionate about the future of their local area and have been generous with their time and shared knowledge.

“We look forward to continuing these important conversations and building trusted relationships to ensure we best deliver on our purpose to care for, protect and manage the coast and parks along the Great Ocean Road.”

The transfer will include land presently managed by Surf Coast Shire and other state government agencies, primarily the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

Anglesea community facilities affected by the change include the town’s tennis club, bowling club, Men’s Shed, Lions Park, Visitor Information Centre, Moonah Park Playground and Loveridge Lookout.

Aireys Inlet Recreation Reserve and Bushland Reserve will also change hands.

Chair of the recent community meetings, Peter Doyle, said this week that local residents wanted to broker a transparent transfer process.

“There’s a real need and a real desire for all of our communities to be in an open and trusting relationship with GORCAPA.

“We want a relationship that works.

“If we don’t work with you to solve these issues, it will have impacts all along the coast.

“There’s quite an interest in Anglesea to work as a team to make things right.”

The authority will have responsibility for coast and parks along the full length of the Great Ocean Road by November 2025.

GORCAPA will host a community drop-in session at Anglesea Memorial Hall tomorrow (Saturday, September 2) from 10am to 12 noon to discuss the land management transfers.

It has also set up an online engagement platform on its website for community members to have their input on the transfers.

The authority said feedback it received from community members, Traditional Owners, visitors and stakeholders would help shape its future management of coastal land.