Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Blog
News and stories from our iconic coast
The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee welcomes their new Caravan Park Operations Manager Daniel Aitken to the team.
Daniel joins the management team with more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry in Torquay and abroad in the UK. Read more
Pedestrians and beach users are encouraged to take care near cliffs along the Surf Coast following heavy rain in winter and spring.
Great Ocean Road Coast Committee, Parks Victoria and Surf Coast Shire Council said the start of summer was a good opportunity to remind community members and visitors about cliff instability.
Your next Great Ocean Road selfie is within arm’s reach at Airey’s Inlet with the completion of the Split Point lookout upgrades.
Two new viewing platforms have been constructed to sensitively complement previous works in the area, catering for increasing numbers of visitors along the Great Ocean Road. Read more
The May intake of the Green Army team has graduated after completing six months of environmental conservation work on the Surf Coast.
The Federal Government funded Green Army initiative supports the hands-on environmental training and development of youths aged between 17 and 24. Read more
Katie Dolling joins the GORCC management team taking on Alex MacDonald’s role while she is away on maternity leave.
Katie completed her Bachelors of Arts/ Science at Melbourne University, majoring in environmental science and geography, as well as her Graduate Diploma in Environment, focusing on policy governance and communications. Read more
Students from four local schools celebrated their commitment to coastal conservation on the Surf Coast at the annual Coast Guardians Forum hosted by the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) last Thursday. Read more
Caleb Hurrell is the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee’s (GORCC) latest recruit, joining the management team as the Coastal Reserves Manager. Read more
More than 90 eucalyptus and wattle trees have been planted on the Forest Road nature strip near the Anglesea/Winchelsea roundabout to offset the installation of the roundabout. Read more
Our Torquay and Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park management teams have undergone a change in management with new park managers, assistant park managers, commercial manager and marketing communications officer being appointed in the past six months.
Geelong local Noah Crone has taken out this year’s #SaveTheHoodie major prize, generously donated by Go Ride A Wave.
The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee’s (GORCC) annual competition aims to encourage beachgoers to support the survival of the vulnerable Hooded Plover and give their chicks space during the busy summer breeding period.
Local businesses have supported this year’s competition, donating prizes which included monthly “hoodies for hoodies” from Ghanda and a Learn to Surf package with a full length 3/2 wetsuit by Go Ride A Wave.
The year 7 Saint Ignatius student said he was thrilled to win this year’s major #SaveTheHoodie prize and said he came across the competition when researching coast care opportunities along the Great Ocean Road.
“I found it really interesting how the Hooded Plovers nest in the same areas every year and are particularly fussy about where they breed,” he said.
Beachgoers and community members were asked to help spread the word by sharing the official ‘Hamish the Hoodie’ image on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #SaveTheHoodie.
The youngster shared the official image on his Instagram account, joking with his mother that he was going to win a hoodie for winter, and was ‘over the moon’ to find out he won the major prize.
The Save the Hoodie campaign was launched in December 2014 to encourage community action in the protection of vulnerable Hooded Plovers, with a particular focus on keeping dogs away from breeding zones
GORCC has been working to ensure the survival of the precious chicks with support from Bird Life Australia, volunteers, the Surf Coast Shire and other partners which has helped see three chicks survive this breeding season.
GORCC Chief Executive Officer Richard Davies said he was delighted with the communities’ support during the 2015-16 breeding period.
“Our conservation team has observed a notable difference in beachgoer behaviour during this year’s campaign following greater community awareness about the birds.
“The results from this year’s campaign are highly encouraging and we would like to extend a big thank you to all the volunteers, local businesses and community members who have helped spread the word and supported this cause,” he said.
For more information on Hooded Plovers and the local Surf Coast campaign, visit www.savethehoodie.com.au or www.birdlife.org.au/projects/beach-nesting-birds.
