New Great Ocean Road Authority board named

THE state government has appointed the inaugural board for the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA).

The authority has been created to co-ordinate the public land along the entirety of the Great Ocean Road, which presently has several different Crown land managers.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio officially appointed the board and praised the capacity of its members.

“I’m proud to be able to appoint the first ever Board for this authority and I’m confident all members have the skills, the passion and the dedication to deliver a new way of managing our precious Great Ocean Road.”

Former Surf Coast Shire council mayor and Victorian Coastal Council chair Libby Mears has been appointed chair of the board.

Ms Mears said she was grateful for her new position and enthusiastic about what the authority could achieve.

“It is a great honour to be appointed the first chair of GORCAPA.

“This is an exciting time for the Great Ocean Road region. Together we will deliver a new and more co-ordinated management approach that benefits locals and protects the environment.”

Avalon Airport business manager and former Committee for Geelong executive director Peter Dorling was appointed deputy chair.

The 12-person board includes a nominee from both the recognised traditional owner groups along the road: the Wadawurrung Corporation and the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.

The other members of the board are Deakin Associate Professor in Marine Science Daniel Ierodiaconou, Regional Partnerships deputy chair and former president of the Twelve Apostles Tourism and Business Group David Pope, Landcare Australia chairman Doug Humann, former Aboriginal Victoria executive director Jason Mifsud, Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism board chair Wayne Kayler-Thomson, former Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions chief precinct adviser Christine Wyatt, former City of Greater Geelong general manager of community services Jenny McMahon, Challenger Consulting chief executive officer and managing director Jodie Leonard, Bush Heritage Australia Aboriginal partnership officer Sarah Eccles, and Western Chances chair Terry Bracks.

GORCAPA will formally take control as the land manager on December 1.