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Our AskSurf Coast Shire Council is seeking Victorian Government investment to ensure relevant state agencies can undertake the timely repair of the network of walking trails and waterfall sites damaged in the flash flood of 15 January 2026. Priority should be given to trails accessed from Lorne given the town serves as the staging location for trail based visitor experiences and the dependency the Lorne economy has on a functioning trail network.
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Surf Coast Shire Council is seeking Victorian Government funding to restore walking trails and waterfall sites near Lorne following the devastating 15 January 2026 flash flood.
The flood caused extensive damage to Great Otway National Park infrastructure, including walking tracks, bridges, viewing platforms and safety assets. Severe erosion, washed-out trails and creek-bed scouring destroyed 28 of 34 bridges, and all but one affected trail and waterfall site remain closed.
Nature-based tourism is a key driver of visitation to the Great Ocean Road region, and timely restoration of the trail network is critical to support local business viability and state tourism outcomes. The ongoing closures have been particularly challenging for Lorne, an anchor destination on the Great Ocean Road that has experienced the most sustained decline in visitor numbers since the flood and summer bushfires.
Council recognises the complex task facing the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority in assessing damage, managing risk and progressing repairs. However, the unprecedented scale of damage will require funding beyond business-as-usual levels.
Whilst site specific assessments continue the repair task will include:
The trails and waterfalls network is a key driver of tourism across the Great Ocean Road region and the cornerstone of Lorne’s visitor economy. Lorne serves as the base for visitors to the trail network with approximately 90% of enquiries to the Lorne Visitor Information Centre relating to walking and waterfall experiences.
Key economic indicators include:
Following the January 2026 flood event, spending in Lorne over the second half of January declined by approximately 75% compared to pre-flood expenditure levels.
As at May 2026 spending in Lorne had still not recovered to pre-flood levels.
In April this year Surf Coast Shire was announced as Victoria’s second Eco Destination, however the ongoing closure of the trail network has meant the value of this accreditation is not being realised.
The project will:
The project directly supports:
The walking trail and waterfall network in the Otways National Park is a nationally significant nature-based tourism asset that supports local livelihoods, regional economic resilience and Victoria’s broader visitor economy. Lorne is the base for much of the trail visitation Investment in the restoration of the network is a critical priority and cannot be achieved without funding above business-as-usual levels.