Colac Otway responds to Great Ocean Road Authority office announcement

Published on 21 February 2020

Colac Otway responds to Great Ocean Road Authority office announcement

Colac Otway Shire Council is pleased a district office for the Great Ocean Road Authority will be established in Apollo Bay but disappointed its advocacy to have new authority’s Head Office in the centrally located town has been unsuccessful.

Council chief Peter Brown said Council had advocated strongly to the State Government to establish the head office in Apollo Bay because of its central location, easy accessibility to the region and facilities the town offered.

“Council saw this as a perfect opportunity for the decentralisation of a Government authority to a regional area, and most importantly to the Great Ocean Road,” Mr Brown said.

“With temporary office space available and the Apollo Bay Harbour Redevelopment set to be the first major City Deal project, it made sense that the Head Office be in Apollo Bay in Colac Otway Shire.

“Council presented its case to State Ministers and representatives on numerous occasions and we are disappointed the Apollo Bay has missed out on the Head Office but today’s announcement that there will be offices in Apollo Bay and Port Campbell is positive.

“The establishment of the new authority is essential in addressing the increasing issues that coastal communities along the Great Ocean Road are facing, from coastal erosion to inadequate facilities for the level of tourism growth they are experiencing,” he said.

“Colac Otway is looking forward to working with the State Government as it establishes a district office for the new authority in Apollo Bay and learning more about employment opportunities and other benefits for the community.”