Designs revealed for Shipwreck Coast projects

THE latest designs for tourist facilities along the Shipwreck Coast have been revealed.

Last week, Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio announced the designs for the infrastructure projects to service the growing number of visitors at the Twelve Apostles’ Saddle Lookout, the Port Campbell Creek Pedestrian Bridge and the Blowhole Lookout.

The facilities are being created as part of the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan.

Local artist Vicki Couzens drew inspiration from black and white cockatoos – totemic to the tribes of the Eastern Maar – for the design of the Twelve Apostles lookout, while the Blowhole Lookout replicates a breaching whale, with the seating to reflect the barnacles on its back.

Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation chief executive officer Jamie Lowe said the coastline and rock formations were sites of great significance where traditional custodians performed ceremonies of celebration, initiation and renewal.

“Recognising and partnering with Traditional Owners in such designs not only represents an opportunity for bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together, it is an opportunity to showcase an internationally iconic landscape in a culturally and environmentally sensitive way that maximises tourism potential.”

Parks Victoria is now calling for expressions of interest to build the facilities at the Saddle Lookout and the Pedestrian Bridge, while work at the Blow Hole will proceed in stage two of the plan.

Each year, more people visit the Great Ocean Road region than Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef combined, and 5.8 million visitors spent $1.3 billion supporting 11,200 jobs in the region in the year ending June 2017.

The Shipwreck Coast Master Plan, a program to protect the coastline between Princetown and the Bay of Islands, will deliver an increase of $254 million in annual spending and the creation of 3,834 Victorian jobs.

“These world class designs will deliver better facilities for visitors to the Great Ocean Road,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“We’re working in partnership with Traditional Owners to manage our parks and improve nature-based tourism.”

For more information about the Shipwreck Coast masterplan, head to parkweb.vic.gov.au.

For information on the expression of interest process for construction of the new infrastructure, head to tenders.vic.gov.au.