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Apply for a coastal event or activity
Licences, leases and permits
The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee issues a number of permits and licences each year to ensure everyone is able to enjoy the wonderful coastline.
Permits are required for foreshore activities, including beach weddings, filming/photography, yoga and personal training sessions, surfing competitions and activities where the use of Crown land coastal reserves is required.
Surf schools, mobile food vendors and many other types of ongoing commercial activities taking place along the coast require a licence.
We also issue and manage leases for a range of coastal-dependent businesses, including the caravan park at Cumberland River – which is currently leased to private operators – and manage the lease relating to Lorne’s Mantra Erskine House resort.
The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee, in partnership with Surf Coast Shire, adheres to a Plastic Wise Policy for all events held on Great Ocean Road Coast-managed land. Introduced in 2016, the policy requires event and market organisers to reduce or eliminate single-use plastics and encourage the use of reusable alternatives. Single use plastic items including bags, packaging, bottled water, straws, cutlery and balloons are commonly found as litter. Help us keep the coast beautiful by making your next event Plastic Wise.
The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee reinvests all funds raised through commercial operations back into the coastal reserves, infrastructure, caravan parks and the community.
Licences and permits
Events
All coastal events undertaken on Great Ocean Road Coast Committee managed coastline require prior approval. This is to ensure as land managers we can accommodate rubbish bin and amenity needs and manage events along each section of the coast to avoid clashes.
Each year a range of groups and organisations conduct several small to large-scale community and commercial events along the coast between Torquay and Lorne. These events include:
- arts performances
- beach volleyball
- community festivals
- community sporting events
- cycling and on-road events
- fun runs
- life-saving events
- marathons
- outdoor concerts
- product promotions and launches
- sailing events
- surfing contests, and
- triathlons
- social gatherings.
Commercial events
The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee defines commercial events as any for-profit event that charges admission or competitor entry fees. GORCC event fees are based on a combination of size, site impact and duration. See our Commercial Event Tariffs for more information.
Non-commercial events
Events for not-for-profit, community groups (such as local volunteer and sporting groups), charities and local schools with less than 50 people do not require a permit. However, events requiring structures (e.g. marquees or seating) will require a permit. Events with 50 or more people require a permit and will incur a $25 admin fee plus cost recovery. Cost recovery will be established on a case by case basis and considers the following:
- event footprint
- environmental effects
- additional cleaning requirements to amenities
- power and water requirements
- GORCC staff labour
- traffic impacts.
Please fill out and submit an Event Application Form.
Weddings / private functions
Arranging a wedding or private function on the foreshore?
Each year, the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee receives numerous requests for weddings and other celebrations to take place on the foreshore reserve.
The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee has a responsibility to manage the foreshore in ways that are ecologically sustainable, thereby ensuring the preservation of our coastal and marine environments for current and future use. This includes monitoring activities, such as weddings, on the land we manage to ensure there are no clashes with other events on the day.
Filming and photography
Want to use the coast for film or photography purposes?
Tourism is a major economic contributor to the area, and the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee recognises the important role that positive promotion through advertising, film and television can play in supporting this vital industry.
Accordingly, the committee welcomes and supports those wishing to film in the area. Fees are set at a minimum to encourage the active promotion of the area through these mediums and conditions apply.
Please note, non-commercial filming (which includes not-for-profits, community groups, charities and schools) will not be charged, however, do still require a permit.
Commercial mobile vendors
There are two approved sites available for the operation of mobile commercial vendors on Great Ocean Road Coast Committee managed land.
A licence is required to operate from these locations:
- Cosy Corner
- Torquay Play Park
Every three years licences are reviewed and a tender process is undertaken.
Surf schools and other commercial activities
All commercial activities conducted on the land managed by the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee requires a licence to operate. The Great Ocean Road provides the perfect location for businesses ranging from mountain bike riding tours, windsurfing lessons, learn to surf groups and more.
Surf school licences are awarded every five years through a competitive Expressions of Interest process. Current surf school licences will expire 30 June 2022, with Expressions of Interest for the 2022-2027 licences advertised one year before the expiration.
All available licences and leases will be advertised directly on our website and in the local papers.
Other permits
We also issue permits for commercial uses of the coast and any activity that may disturb public enjoyment of the Great Ocean Road coastal reserves.
These include, but are not limited to:
- Horse riding permits
- Helicopter landing and parking
