Coastal and Marine Conservation

The coastline and adjoining land between Point Impossible and Mt Defiance along the Great Ocean Road, is considered some of the most spectacular in Australia. Many natural qualities and diverse environments, including cliffs and dunes, significant coastal wetlands, Iron Bark forests, National Estate heathlands and Blue Gums growing down to the sea, combine to create a coastline that is special and unique.

Much of the coastline and the surrounding area is in public ownership, managed by a range of authorities including: the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Vic Roads and the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee.

The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) has the responsibility to manage 37 kilometres of coastal Crown land reserves on Victoria's Great Ocean Road from the Point Impossible east of Torquay to the Cumberland River, southwest of Lorne.
GORCC was appointed by the Victorian Government in August 2004. GORCC is independent of Surf Coast Shire, but works in close partnership with it.
GORCC manages foreshore areas along the coast, as well as caravan parks in Torquay and Lorne.  To find out more about GORCC see link below.

The Surf Coast Shire directly manages the Bells Beach Surfing and Recreation Reserve, through the Bells Beach Advisory Committee. A number of regional and state bodies oversee the activities of the Advisory Committee.

In its role as a major manager for land adjoining the coast the Shire can have a big impact on the protection and better management of coastal and marine environments. Many land based activities directly or indirectly impact on coastal and marine environments. The Surf Coast Shire, through planning and management of these activities, can help reduce their impact.