Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Blog

Fence a win for environmental and cultural heritage conservation

July 22, 2019July 25, 2019greatoceanroadcoast

Under the guidance of Wadawurrung (Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation), a rabbit proof fence has recently been installed by the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC).

A win for both environmental and cultural heritage conservation, the fence is designed to disrupt destructive rabbit activity in and around Whites Beach, Torquay.

The fence is positioned between an area known as ‘the gap’ along the gravel section of the Esplanade down to the Point Impossible Nude Beach.

The fence forms part of an integrated rabbit control program developed to support and restore ecological processes and preserve the integrity of culturally sensitive sites. Read more →

Monitoring coastal erosion in Anglesea

May 1, 2019July 25, 2019greatoceanroadcoast

The Great Ocean Road coast is constantly changing.

While Victoria has a long history of weather variability such as storms, droughts and floods, climate change is projected to increase risks to coastal environments through drivers such as sea-level rise, change in wave-direction and increases in swell energy and storm tide events. These drivers affect coastal erosion, sediment supply and inundation and are expected to vary geographically across Victoria’s coastal zone.

The Victorian Coastal Monitoring Program (VCMP) aims to provide communities with information on coastal condition, change, hazards, and the expected longer-term impacts associated with climate change that will support decision making and adaptation planning. Read more →

Coast Guardians – future protectors of the coast

April 8, 2019May 6, 2019greatoceanroadcoast

The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee’s (GORCC) management area is rich with various habitats and environments, each providing separate and valuable educational opportunities for students.

Since 2011, GORCC has been running education activities based on natural resource management practices and hands-on conservation activities, engaging with students from all over Victoria.

The program – designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to work with, understand, respect, protect and enhance our coastal surroundings – aims to inspire students to be the environmental stewards of the future and become advocates for the coastal environment. Read more →

The buck stops with buckthorn

February 1, 2019greatoceanroadcoast

Works to eradicate an infestation of Italian buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus) at Spring Creek in Torquay are set to begin as the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee and RACV Torquay Resort work together with Jan Juc Coast Action to bring the weed under control. Read more →

Trash Bags on Tour

January 29, 2019July 25, 2019greatoceanroadcoast

Have you ever wanted to visit an iconic Australian landmark but feel guilty about the impact on the environment and local wildlife? There is now a solution for this common dilemma. Autopia Tours have partnered with a not-for-profit, volunteer operated Tour Company; Trash Bags on Tour. With the purpose of bringing tourists and travellers to Victorian landmarks, to pick up rubbish! Read more →

Share our Shores from Coast to Coast

September 24, 2018July 25, 2019greatoceanroadcoast

The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee and Barwon Coast Committee of Management have joined forces with a simple message for visitors of the coast this summer.

From Ocean Grove on the Bellarine Peninsula to Cumberland River on the Surf Coast, we are asking beachgoers to ‘Share our Shores’.

The Share our Shores campaign focuses on all aspects of equitable use by all types of beach users. Read more →

Environmental protection from the next generation of coastal innovators

September 13, 2018October 18, 2018greatoceanroadcoast

On Wednesday 5 September, around 160 students from five local schools gathered in Torquay to learn, work-shop ideas and celebrate coastal conservation at the annual Coast Guardians Forum hosted by the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee.

The year 9 students from Northern Bay College, Surf Coast Secondary College, Geelong Lutheran College, Lorne Aireys Inlet P-12 College, and Sacred Heart College had a day of guest presenters, exciting activities and prizes as part of the Great Ocean Road Coast’s award-winning Environmental Education Program. Read more →

Stopping litter in its tracks

August 14, 2018October 18, 2018greatoceanroadcoast

Great Ocean Road Coast’s conservation team recently undertook works to address an old overgrown drain at Torquay’s back beach, emptying into the sea near Voss’ car park.

Conservation Worker Scott Hives set about designing a solution. Read more →

Nurdles prove major hurdle for marine life

August 9, 2018August 14, 2018greatoceanroadcoast

What’s a nurdle? A nurdle is a very small pellet of plastic which serves as the key material in the manufacture of plastic products. Countless billions of these small plastic balls are used each year to make nearly all our plastic products.

Accidental spillage and mishandling means that countless nurdles have ended up in our oceans, wreaking havoc on the environment.

Mistaken for food by our marine-life and seabirds, nurdles and other plastics can make animals very sick when ingested.

Coastal clean-up after wild weekend

June 20, 2018August 14, 2018greatoceanroadcoast

The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee’s foreshore rangers are busily assessing the impact of a wild weekend on the coast.