The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) has partnered with Surf Coast Shire Council and the Victorian Government to construct and maintain an accessible change room and toilet for people with high physical support needs.

The Adult Changing Places (ACP) facility in Anglesea (at the Four Kings car park) will have an adult-size change table, ceiling hoist and enough space for carers to move around. The site in Anglesea was chosen due to its accessibility, proximity to key travel routes and lack of similar facilities in the area.

There are only 70 ACPs throughout Australia and this facility is designed to provide dignified and equal opportunities for people to experience the beauty of the Surf Coast.

GORCC already has plans to refurbish the existing toilet facilities at Four Kings, and this work will include upgrading the exterior cladding on the existing block to match the final design of the new Changing Place facility.

Construction will begin August 2019 with works expected to be completed by October 2019.

Visit Surf Coast Shire Council’s website for further information.

• Download the architect’s document
• Download image of layout plans

Background

In July 2017, the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) resumed direct management of the Anglesea Family Caravan Park. GORCC committed to a major investment in the park, to be implemented through a consultative master planning process.

The 10-year staged master plan focuses on:

• enhancing camper experience
• caring for and improving the natural environment and acknowledging the cultural heritage of the park
• updating existing amenities and developing new facilities that model sustainable practices.

Initial camper, community and stakeholder consultation took place over January and February 2019, with an emphasis on identifying issues and opportunities that needed to be considered in developing the draft master plan.

Consultation and feedback was strong, with over 1,100 individuals and groups contributing. The key themes identified included protecting and enhancing the character and natural environment of the park, increasing the number of pet-friendly sites, an upgrade to the pool area, the introduction of campfires, and providing more entertainment opportunities in the park.

The draft master plan was informed by this feedback, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s Improving Equity of Access to Crown Land Caravan and Camping Parks policy, GORCC’s Coastal and Marine Management Plan, and in response to increased visitation pressure to the Great Ocean Road.

During April and May 2019, GORCC gathered camper, community and stakeholder feedback on the Anglesea Family Caravan Park Draft Master Plan. Over 350 individuals and groups contributed feedback during this round.

Final master plan

Feedback received during the issues and opportunities, and draft master plan consultation rounds, has informed the development of the final master plan as follows:

Theme 1: Transition zones proposal

There was resounding opposition to the proposed transition zones – respondents suggested opening up the identified transition zones to all annual permit holder areas in the park, not just a designated area.

Response: The identified transition zones have been removed from the final plan. As a response to increasing visitor demand and improving the equity of access, it is proposed that the total number of twelve-month permit (TMP) sites will continue to reduce through natural attrition from 307 to 247 over the length of the master plan. This will be managed operationally, as it is now. All TMP sites under existing Moonah vegetation will continue as such.

Theme 2: Tented camping proposal

Respondents believed it was important to retain these sites for dual purpose, and stated tented camping would not be suitable in this area due to strong winds and environmental reasons.

Response: The final plan includes the introduction of 12 environmentally friendly glamping tents in the estuary and beach areas. These will be introduced over the medium to long term to ensure adequate consultation and notice to all campers affected. This has already been successfully achieved in both Lorne and Torquay. A planting and landscape design will be completed to negate the effect of wind on this area. This option helps to diversify our accommodation offering, introducing a new market to the park.

Theme 3: Pool and recreation area upgrades

Respondents agreed with the proposed pool and recreation upgrades and see them as essential to the future success of the park.

Response: The final plan has removed the BMX track from under the Moonah forest in the recreation area. We will be working with the local traditional owners to activate this area as a ‘Story Telling/Contemplative’ space. The viewing platforms along the surf coast walk have also been removed from the final plan. All further upgrades to the recreation areas as proposed in the draft master plan have been adopted. Further investigation of the extent and design of the pool area upgrade will be undertaken in year 1 with delivery planned for years 4-5.

Theme 4: Increasing dog-friendly sites

Respondents were evenly split on this proposal – those not supportive of the proposal raised issues with dogs impacting the environment, including the local blue wren population, and the enjoyment of guests, and those supportive of the proposal would like to see annual permit holders allowed to bring their dog/s.

Response: The final plan does not allow for an increase in the provision of dog-friendly sites. A survey of TMP holders across GORCC’s three caravan parks will be undertaken to consider the possibility of allowing dogs at certain times of the year on TMP sites.

Theme 5: Introduction of campfires

Respondents were evenly split on this proposal – those not supportive of the proposal raised issues of the park being a bushfire prone area, guests destroying native vegetation for firewood use, contributing to air pollution, and safety reasons, and those supportive of the proposal agree it would add to their camping experience and be a positive communal initiative.

Response: The final plan proposes the introduction of a stone-built, lockable community fire pit to be located near the camp kitchen in the beach area. This will be available on request to groups and schools, with an additional calendar of events for general camper activities. Individual fire pits will not be catered for.

Theme 6: Amenity upgrades and new Environmental Education Centre

All proposed upgrades and the addition of a new Environmental Education Centre were viewed as positive changes to the park.

Response: The final plan has moved the location of the Environmental Education Centre to replace the existing office space/residence behind the caravan park reception, as the original location impacted on existing Moonah vegetation. All upgrades to existing buildings as proposed in the draft plan have been adopted in the final plan.

Next steps

GORCC will commence priority works in 2019-20, including:

• the conversion of existing games room into the main camp kitchen
• repurpose small games room in the estuary area
• creation of new playground and multi-court facility in the recreation area.

In 2020 GORCC will present and advocate the master plan to the new Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCPA) for adoption.

Project documentation

• Master plan

Works to upgrade the beach access ramp at Anglesea Family Caravan Park began in late-October 2019.

A large storm swell event damaged the existing concrete ramp in 2017, with GORCC working closely with coastal engineers to design a replacement structure since then.

The new ramp allows access for users of wheelchairs, prams, bikes and small unpowered watercraft such as kayaks.

The ramp is built from a non-slip fibre reinforced material and runs southwards parallel to the cliffs. The existing concrete has been reinforced and protected from further damage with basalt rock matching the existing coastal protective rock wall.

The works were funded by GORCC’s Capital Works Program and a $150,000 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Coastal Environments Grant Program grant.

Background

In late 2016, GORCC and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning built a sloping rock wall to address erosion and public safety concerns immediately north of the Anglesea Caravan Park Beach Access Ramp. Community consultation was undertaken as a part of this project and found that the concrete ramp was not suitable for use by larger boats and that Pt Roadknight was the preferred location for launching such craft.

The consultation found that access for wheelchairs, kayaks, prams, bikes and people of all mobility levels was desired by the community. Access for emergency services and stretchers was also found to be highly desirable.

In June 2017 a large storm swell event seriously damaged the existing aged concrete ramp and coastal engineers have now designed a replacement structure. The new structure will make the existing concrete ramp safer plus provide safe access for a range of users.

Project documentation

• Fact sheet

Project completed | 2016

The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee undertook over $100,000 of risk mitigation works to repair the Anglesea beach access ramp and manage cliff erosion.

Works, funded by the Victorian Government’s Coastal Environments Program through the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee, commenced Monday 12 December 2016 and was completed in time for Christmas.

This popular area required immediate works in the interests of visitor safety coming into peak period. An excavator and dump truck will transport rocks to the work site to construct the rock wall and back-fill it with sand.

The rock wall has been designed by a coastal engineer and in consideration of cliff geomorphology and sea and wave conditions. The beach access ramp will also be repaired to maintain safe pedestrian access to the beach. These works will reduce further erosion and make the area safe and accessible for the community.

Works follow detailed surveys from coastal engineers, following severe erosion to the cliff area over the past two years. Great Ocean Road Coast will discuss longer-term management options at this site in early 2017.

Project Documentation

Fact Sheet | 2016

Media Release

13 December 2016 | Works underway to repair erosion damage at Anglesea access ramp