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Updating the popular Erskine River for all users
Erskine River Master Plan
The Erskine River Master Plan establishes a long-term vision to guide the future use and development of the Swing Bridge Cafe Precinct and Erskine Paddock Landscape Plan in Lorne over the next ten years.
The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee has committed $200,000 in 2018-19 to upgrade the Erskine River Precinct. The Erskine River Projects are comprised of two elements, the Erskine Paddock Landscape Plan and the Swing Bridge Cafe Precinct Project.
The Swing Bridge Cafe precinct incorporates the southern bank of the Erskine River, Swing Bridge Café and is bounded to the east by Louttit Bay ocean beach and to the south by Erskine Paddock. This zone forms an important pedestrian link across the iconic Swing Bridge and along the beach connecting North Lorne to Lorne Central.
Background
In 2014 the Erskine River Precinct Master Plan established a long-term vision to guide the future use and development of the Erskine River Precinct in Lorne over the next ten years. The plan incorporated three phases of community consultation and feedback from other stakeholders.
Next steps
Works are scheduled to commence to re-develop the Swing Bridge precinct after Easter 2019. Erskine Paddock landscape plan is currently being finalised ahead of community consultation prior to any re-development works.
Project details
Erskine Paddock Landscape Plan
This project arose through a group of concerned Lorne community members – primarily parents using the Erskine Paddock playground and surrounding area with their children.
Due to the poor view lines and numerous hiding places around the site’s perimeter, community members were concerned about children’s safety in the heavily treed area.
The draft concept aims to maintain open space and the existing landscape character, consistent with the Erskine River Precinct Master Plan, but also update/improve this local park area for daily use.
Some of the proposed elements include:
- Replacing the ageing play equipment and old bike path with nature based play features
- Installing new BBQ, picnic and other seating
- Landscaping around the perimeter
Swing Bridge Precinct Project
The Swing Bridge Precinct Project aims to deliver Actions E3-E5 from the Erskine River Precinct Master Plan to Zone E (pg 29 of the master plan).
The plan aims to maintain/increase the current number of parking spaces and separate vehicles from pedestrians along the busy section of the vehicle turn around near Swing Bridge.
The landscape plan will provide further public amenity through the use of reconfigured picnic tables, additional seating, opening up river views and intermittent planting.
Media Release
25 January 2017 | Further sessions to discuss the Lorne Foreshore
20 January 2017 | Talking about the Lorne Foreshore
Project Documentation
Erskine River Master Plan | October 2014
Zone E | Swing Bridge Precinct Project
Plan of key changes| Swing Bridge Precinct Project
Current Lorne projects
Projects
Updating the popular Erskine River for all users
Lorne Foreshore (Caravan Park) Master Plan
A draft master plan has been prepared by Great Ocean Road Coast to replace the old Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park Master Plan (2008).
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (formerly the Department of Environment and Primary Industries) approval for the 2008 master plan expired in 2012.
The Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park comprises five discrete parks. Of the five, four cluster around the entrance to Lorne (near the Erskine River Bridge), whilst one is located separately and ‘out of town’ at Queens Park. Following the current consultation period, two final master plans will be created:
- A master plan for the three township parks of Kia Ora, Ocean Road and Top Bank.
- A master plan for Queens Park (access more information on this planning process here)
No significant changes are planned for the Erskine River Park at this stage.
Project Documentation
Draft Master Plan | 2013
Consultation Report | 2014
Community consultation on the draft plan was conducted in December 2013/January 2014.
The feedback detailed in this report (above) will be now be considered in the development of two final master plans:
- A final master plan for the four township parks of Kia Ora, Ocean Road, Erskine River & Top Bank.
- A secondary draft plan for the Queens Park Caravan Park.
Updating the popular Erskine River for all users
Queens Park Caravan Park Master Plan
The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee is undertaking a planning process for the Queens Caravan Park, Lorne.
In 2013/2014 a draft master plan for the Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park was released. This included a preliminary draft master plan for the caravan park at Queens Park. The preliminary draft master plan was released for consultation in January 2014 and the feedback received was summarised in a consultation report (see below).
Feedback received was considered in the development of the Queens Park Revised Draft Master Plan, which was released for consultation in January 2015.
Project Documentation
Queens Park Caravan Park (Nature Based Accommodation) | Revised Draft Master Plan
Consultation Reports
Consultation Report on Revised Draft | July 2015
Consultation Report on Preliminary Draft | April 2014