Preamble

The Parliament recognises the intrinsic connection of the traditional owners to the land and sea Country that the Great Ocean Road traverses, and that the area has nourished and sustained the traditional owners physically and spiritually and continues to be important to the traditional owners today and into the future.

Eastern Maar

The following statement (in a Maar language^[1] and in English) is from the Eastern Maar—

‘watnanda koong meerreeng, tyama-ngan malayeetoo’

Ngatanwarr

Ngeerang meerreeng-an

Peepay meerreeng-an

Kakayee meerreeng-an

Wartee meerreeng-an

Maara-wanoong, laka. Wanga-kee-ngeeye

Meereeng-ngeeye, pareeyt, nganpeeyan, weeyn, wooroot, poondeeya-teeyt

Meerreeng-ngeeye, nhakateeyt, woorroong, leehnan, mooroop, keerray

Meerreeng-ngeeye, thookay-ngeeye, pareeyt pareeyt ba waran waran-ngeeye, wangeeyarr ba wangeet - ngeeye, maar ba thanampool-ngeeye, Ngalam Meen-ngeeye, mooroop-ngeeye

Meerreeng-ngeeye Maar, Maar meerreeng

Wamba-wanoong yaapteeyt-oo, leerpeeneeyt-ngeeye, kooweekoowee-ngeeye nhakapooreepooree-ngeeye, keeyan-ngeeye

Wamba-wanoong nhoonpee yaapteeyt-oo, tyama-takoort meerreeng

Peetyawan weeyn Meerreeng, nhaka Meerreeng, keeyan Meerreeng, nganto-pay ngootyoonayt meerreeng

Kooweeya-wanoong takoort meerreeng-ee ba watanoo Meerreng-ngeeye, yana-thalap-ee ba wanga-kee Meerreeng laka

Ngeetoong keeyan-ngeen Meerreeng, Meerreeng keeyan ngooteen

Together body and Country, we know long time

(We see all of you), greeting.

Mother my Country.

Father my Country.

Sister my Country.

Brother my Country.

We are the Maar speaking Peoples. Hear us.

Our Country is water, air, fire, trees, life.

Our Country is thought, language, heart, soul, blood.

Our Country is our Children, our youth, our Elders, our men and women, our Ancestors, our spirit.

Our Country is Maar, Maar is Country.

We bring to the light our songs, our stories, our vision, our love.

We bring these things to the light so All can know Country.

To care for Country. To think about Country. To love Country. To protect Country.

We invite all that choose to live on or visit our Country to slow down. To tread softly and listen to Country speak.

If you love Country, Country will love you

Wadawurrung

The following statement (in the Wadawurrung language^[2] and in English) is from the Wadawurrung—

Comugeen budjo thalikiyu kin bil bengordi ngadak. Ngarrwabil, boron, guli, bagurrk. Comugeen budjo bengadak ngarruk dja, ngubiyt, weagoon gobata gupma wurring baap bengordi nganak, djarrima murrupnhuk bengadak

Gobata Wadawurrung balug jumbuk dirdalbil murrupnhuk bundjil monomeet beeko weagoon. Mutjakak noogie wada durralully.

Wangarrak Wadawurrung balug bengadak mirriyu birraleedja gobata kia ying, ngarrimilli, wahak, karrung, kuya, nyanayit yanunit, djilenawurr, baap willam bengordi ngadak

Nyurrinana ngal bengordi ngadak

Willam wurdiwarri Wadawurrung Balug dja bengordi ngadak, bullarto nerrigirr baap monomeeth worrowing warree, gelanyi bulboluk

Koaka dorla, Godomut, Koornoo, Jan Juc, Mangowak

Willamo weeagoon monomeetwa yonbarra baap wirrapiyn, buniya, tarka binyak ngal. Waweagoon nerrigurro kit baap bullarto gurrin kia wahak, karrung, yanikan werrity. Corroborree bullarto waik ngitj balugwa bengordi ngadak

Beek budj kanamo ngitj.

Mirr wurru ngarra dja bengadak.

Mirritonton dja Wadawurrung balug, gobata beak yerraak murrup yanimirriyu ngarrwauk bengordi ngadak

We deeply respect our people of the past. Elders, children, men, women. We deeply respect their knowledge of country, water, life, their care of the traditions and of each other, we stand with their spirit.

Great spirit Bundjil told us to take care of the great life within the land. To only take what you need without selfishness.

Wadawurrung shared their knowledge of singing, dance, trade, camps, fishing, hunting, paintings, and homes with us to protect for our future generations.

We all need to help.

Our Wadawurrung family group lived within the great sea, with a large land of forested areas and wonderful banks of the ocean, near many water bodies.

Anglesea, Point Addis, Barwon Heads, Jan Juc, Aireys Inlet.

These homes all provide ideal life to birds and fish, eels. Reeds turned into our baskets.

Life in the forest gave resources like food and lots of tools to use for trade, building, journeys.

If there was lots to trade, we would share with our families and celebrate.

We love this earth will all our feeling

We would name our country, by what we could see.

Our country is remembered by Wadawurrung, our proud spirit walks to tomorrow to teach others the care of our earth.

The Parliament of Victoria therefore enacts:

1Purposes

The purposes of this Act are—

(a)

to recognise the importance of the Great Ocean Road and its environs to the economic prosperity and liveability of Victoria, and as one living and integrated natural entity, for the purposes of protecting that area; and

(b)

to provide for the declaration of areas of land and water known as the Great Ocean Road region and the Great Ocean Road scenic landscapes area; and

(c)

to provide for the declaration of an area of public land and water known as the Great Ocean Road coast and parks; and

(d)

to set out principles to which responsible entities must have regard when performing functions or exercising powers in relation to the Great Ocean Road coast and parks; and

(e)

to establish the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority; and

(f)

to provide for the development, implementation and monitoring of an overarching strategic framework plan for the Great Ocean Road region; and

(g)

to amend the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability Act 2003 to impose new reporting requirements in relation to the Great Ocean Road coast and parks; and

(h)

to amend the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to provide for the interaction between a Great Ocean Road strategic framework plan and planning schemes; and

(i)

to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

2Commencement

(1)

Subject to subsection (2), this Act comes into operation on a day or days to be proclaimed.

(2)

If a provision of this Act does not come into operation before 1 December 2020, it comes into operation on that day.

3Definitions

In this Act—

amenity includes the features of the Great Ocean Road region that engage community connection with nature, culture and heritage and enhance community health and wellbeing, whether through tangible or intangible means;

approved Great Ocean Road strategic framework plan means a Great Ocean Road strategic framework plan that—

(a)

has been approved under section 38; and

(b)

is in operation;

Authority means the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority established under Part 5;

Barwon Water means Barwon Region Water Corporation constituted under Part 6 of the Water Act 1989;

S. 3 def. of climate change amended by No. 9/2024 s. 29.

climate change has the same meaning as in the Climate Action Act 2017;

S. 3 def. of corporate planning document inserted by No. 47/2025 s. 28(b).

corporate planning document means any of the following—

(a)

a statement of corporate intent;

(b)

a corporate plan;

(c)

a business plan;

S. 3 def. of Department amended by No. 25/2025 s. 106(Sch. 1 item 19.1).

Department means the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action;

Department Head means the person employed as the Department Head under section 12 of the Public Administration Act 2004 for the Department;

environment means—

(a)

the physical factors of the surroundings of human beings including the land, waters, atmosphere, climate, sound, odours and tastes; and

(b)

the biological factors of animals and plants; and

(c)

the social factor of aesthetics;

environmental carrying capacity means the scale of human activity that can take place in an area without an irreversible change in the environment of that area;

Great Ocean Road means the National Heritage listed length of the Great Ocean Road;

Great Ocean Road coast and parks means—

(a)

an area of public land or water declared under section 9; and

(b)

the initial Great Ocean Road land declared under section 68;

S. 3 def. of Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Account inserted by No. 42/2021 s. 4(1).

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Account means the Trust Account established under section 62A;

Great Ocean Road coast and parks protection principles means the principles set out in Part 3;

Great Ocean Road region means an area of land or water declared under section 8;

S. 3 def. of Great Ocean Road scenic landscapes area amended by No. 47/2025 s. 28(a).

Great Ocean Road scenic landscapes area means an area declared under section 10;

Great Ocean Road settlement boundary means a settlement boundary in the Great Ocean Road scenic landscapes area that is protected under a Great Ocean Road strategic framework plan;

Great Ocean Road strategic framework plan means a plan prepared in accordance with Part 4;

Great Ocean Walk means—

(a)

the walking track between Apollo Bay and the Twelve Apostles that is commonly known as the "Great Ocean Walk"; and

(b)

any additional areas of land declared under section 11;

Head, Transport for Victoria has the same meaning as in the Transport Integration Act 2010;

S. 3 def. of land management plan inserted by No. 42/2021 s. 4(1).

land management plan means a plan made under section 62L, including a plan as amended or varied;

marine and coastal environment has the same meaning as in the Marine and Coastal Act 2018;

municipal council has the same meaning as Council has in the Local Government Act 1989;

S. 3 def. of municipal district inserted by No. 42/2021 s. 4(1).

municipal district has the same meaning as in section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 2020;

native title holder has the same meaning as in section 224 of the Native Title Act 1993 of the Commonwealth;

Parks Victoria has the same meaning as in the Parks Victoria Act 2018;

S. 3 def. of personal information inserted by No. 42/2021 s. 4(1).

personal information has the same meaning as in the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014;

Planning Minister means the Minister administering the Planning and Environment Act 1987;

protected settlement boundary has the same meaning as in the Planning and Environment Act 1987;

S. 3 def. of public land amended by No. 42/2021 s. 4(2).

public land means—

(a)

land reserved under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978; or

(b)

land under the Land Act 1958; or

(c)

reserved forest within the meaning of the Forests Act 1958; or

(d)

land under the management and control of the Secretary or Parks Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975; or

(e)

land administered under the National Parks Act 1975; or

(f)

land owned by the Authority; or

(g)

land under the control and management of a responsible entity that is leased to or managed by the Authority under an agreement with the responsible entity;

recognition and settlement agreement has the same meaning as in the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010;

registered Aboriginal party has the same meaning as in the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006;

S. 3 def. of Reservation Order inserted by No. 42/2021 s. 4(1).

Reservation Order means a Reservation Order made by the Governor in Council under section 62V;

S. 3 def. of responsible entity amended by No. 42/2021 s. 4(3).

responsible entity means—

(a)

the Authority; or

(b)

Barwon Water; or

(c)

Colac Otway Shire Council; or

(d)

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority; or

(e)

Corangamite Shire Council; or

(f)

Glenelg-Hopkins Catchment Management Authority; or

(g)

Head, Transport for Victoria; or

(h)

Moyne Shire Council; or

(i)

Parks Victoria; or

(j)

the Secretary; or

(k)

Southern Rural Water; or

(l)

Surf Coast Shire Council; or

* * * * *

(n)

Victorian Planning Authority; or

(o)

Victorian Rail Track continued under section 116 of the Transport Integration Act 2010; or

(p)

Wannon Water; or

(q)

Warrnambool City Council; or

(r)

any other public entity or body established for a public purpose that is prescribed to be a responsible entity;

Secretary means the body corporate established by Part 2 of the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987;

settlement boundary has the same meaning as in the Planning and Environment Act 1987;

Southern Rural Water means Gippsland and Southern Rural Water Corporation constituted under Part 6 of the Water Act 1989;

specified Aboriginal party, in relation to an area of land, means any of the following—

(a)

if there are native title holders for the whole or part of the area—the native title holders;

(b)

if there is a traditional owner group entity appointed for the whole or part of the area and that traditional owner group entity is a party to a recognition and settlement agreement—the traditional owner group entity;

(c)

if there is a registered Aboriginal party for the whole or part of the area—the registered Aboriginal party;

S. 3 def. of statement of obligations inserted by No. 42/2021 s. 4(1).

statement of obligations means the statement made under section 62F, including a statement of obligations as amended or varied;

traditional owner group entity has the same meaning as in the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010;

Traditional Owner Land Management Board means a Board established under Part 8A of the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987;

Victorian coastal waters has the same meaning as the expression "coastal waters of the State" has in relation to Victoria under the Coastal Waters (State Powers) Act 1980 of the Commonwealth;

Wannon Water means Wannon Region Water Corporation constituted under Part 6 of the Water Act 1989.

4Act does not affect native title rights and interests or certain other rights

(1)

Nothing in this Act—

(a)

is intended to affect native title rights and interests otherwise than in accordance with the Native Title Act 1993 of the Commonwealth; or

(b)

derogates from any right or expectation under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 or the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010; or

(c)

affects any other right or expectation of traditional owners or Aboriginal Victorians under any other Act or law.

(2)

In this section, affect and native title rights and interests have the same meanings as in the Native Title Act 1993 of the Commonwealth.

5Filming Approval Act 2014

This Act is filming approval legislation within the meaning of the Filming Approval Act 2014.

6Transport Integration Act 2010

This Act is interface legislation within the meaning of the Transport Integration Act 2010.

7Act binds the Crown

This Act binds the Crown in right of Victoria and, so far as the legislative power of the Parliament permits, the Crown in all its other capacities.

8Great Ocean Road region

(1)

The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, may by Order published in the Government Gazette declare any area of land or water referred to in subsection (3) to be the Great Ocean Road region.

(2)

The Minister may only make a recommendation under subsection (1) with the consent of—

(a)

any Minister that administers an Act under which public land is managed, if public land under that Act is within the proposed Great Ocean Road region; and

(b)

the Planning Minister.

(3)

An Order under subsection (1) may include the following—

(a)

land and water between the outer limit of Victorian coastal waters and the Great Ocean Road;

(b)

land and water between the Great Ocean Road and inland of the Great Ocean Road that is within the municipal districts of the following municipal councils—

(i)

Surf Coast Shire Council;

(ii)

Colac Otway Shire Council;

(iii)

Corangamite Shire Council;

(iv)

Moyne Shire Council;

S. 8(3)(b)(v) amended by No. 42/2021 s. 5(a).

(v)

Warrnambool City Council;

S. 8(3)(c) inserted by No. 42/2021 s. 5(b).

(c)

land on which the Great Ocean Road is situated.

(4)

The Order must identify any land to which it applies by reference to a numbered plan lodged in the Central Plan Office.

(5)

The Governor in Council may remove any land or water from the Great Ocean Road region in the same manner as a declaration is made under this section.

9Great Ocean Road coast and parks

(1)

The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, may by Order published in the Government Gazette declare any area of public land or water referred to in subsection (3) to be the Great Ocean Road coast and parks.

S. 9(2) substituted by No. 42/2021 s. 6(1).

(2)

The Minister may only make a recommendation under subsection (1) with the consent of any Minister that administers an Act under which public land is managed, if public land under that Act is within the proposed Great Ocean Road coast and parks.

(3)

An Order under subsection (1) may include the following—

(a)

public land and water between the outer limit of Victorian coastal waters and the Great Ocean Road;

(b)

public land and water between the Great Ocean Road and inland of the Great Ocean Road that is within the municipal districts of the following municipal councils—

(i)

Surf Coast Shire Council;

(ii)

Colac Otway Shire Council;

(iii)

Corangamite Shire Council;

(iv)

Moyne Shire Council;

S. 9(3)(b)(v) amended by No. 42/2021 s. 6(2)(a).

(v)

Warrnambool City Council;

S. 9(3)(c) inserted by No. 42/2021 s. 6(2)(b).

(c)

land on which the Great Ocean Road is situated.

(4)

The Order must identify any land to which it applies by reference to a numbered plan lodged in the Central Plan Office.

(5)

The Governor in Council may remove any land or water from the Great Ocean Road coast and parks in the same manner as a declaration is made under this section.

10Great Ocean Road scenic landscapes area

S. 10(1) amended by No. 47/2025 s. 29(1).

(1)

The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, may by Order published in the Government Gazette declare any area referred to in subsection (3) to be the Great Ocean Road scenic landscapes area.

(2)

The Minister may only make a recommendation under subsection (1) with the consent of—

(a)

the Premier; and

(b)

the Treasurer; and

(c)

any Minister that administers an Act under which public land is managed, if public land under that Act is within the proposed Great Ocean Road scenic landscapes area; and

(d)

the Planning Minister.

(3)

An Order under subsection (1) may include the following—

S. 10(3)(a) substituted by No. 47/2025 s. 29(2).

(a)

land and water between the outer limit of Victorian coastal waters and the Great Ocean Road;

S. 10(3)(b) substituted by No. 47/2025 s. 29(2).

(b)

land and water between—

(i)

the inland boundary of the land on which the Great Ocean Road is situated; and

(ii)

the inland boundary of the viewshed from any point on the Great Ocean Road, the Great Ocean Walk or the coastline;

Example

A gully is located in the area between the boundaries described paragraph (b)(i) and (ii), but cannot be seen from any point on the Great Ocean Road, the Great Ocean Walk or the coastline because it is behind a hill. The Governor in Council may make a declaration under this section relating to the area in which the gully is located, provided the other requirements of this section are met.

S. 10(3)(ba) inserted by No. 42/2021 s. 7(1)(a), repealed by No. 47/2025 s. 29(2).

* * * * *

S. 10(3)(c) amended by No. 42/2021 s. 7(1)(b)), substituted by No. 47/2025 s. 29(2).

(c)

land on which the Great Ocean Road is situated;

S. 10(3)(d) inserted by No. 47/2025 s. 29(2).

(d)

any land and water adjacent to land and water referred to in paragraph (b);

S. 10(3)(e) inserted by No. 47/2025 s. 29(2).

(e)

if a settlement is partially within the land and water described in paragraph (b), land and water on which the whole of that settlement is located that is not within the land and water described in paragraph (b).

S. 10(4) substituted by No. 47/2025 s. 29(3).

(4)

An Order under subsection (1) must identify the area to which it applies by reference to a numbered plan lodged in the Central Plan Office.

(5)

The Governor in Council may remove any land or water from the Great Ocean Road scenic landscapes area in the same manner as a declaration is made under this section.

S. 10(6) def. of viewshed amended by No. 42/2021 s. 7(2).

(6)

In this section—

viewshed means a landscape that can be viewed from a specified position and determined by the application of best practice mapping tools and landscape assessment methodologies.

11Declarations of additional areas of Great Ocean Walk

For the purposes of section 10, the Minister may by Order published in the Government Gazette declare any additional areas of land to be part of the Great Ocean Walk.

Great Ocean Road and Environs Protection Act 2020

About this Act

Bill & explanatory material

This Act’s bill