The community has overwhelmingly supported improvements to the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve, saying they are well overdue.
We’re pleased to announce the release of the What We Heard Report for the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve draft Masterplan. This report summarises the feedback we received from the local community throughout our engagement period across June and July 2023.
74% of survey respondents either supported the precinct’s draft Masterplan or were neutral.
Feedback showed strong support for the proposed community and sporting precincts, while mixed feedback was received on the camping precinct due largely to an introduction of eco glamping tents and the shift away from annual permit sites to a seasonal campground.
The draft Masterplan presented a framework for the balanced redevelopment of the Reserve’s established sporting and recreation facilities and campground, while improving cultural heritage protection, environmental outcomes and responding to the local impacts of climate change, including flood risk.
Throughout June and July, we invited Apollo Bay locals, visitors and key stakeholders to review the draft Masterplan and have their say on the future of the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve.
Community and stakeholder feedback has provided valuable insights into how locals, campers, sporting clubs, community groups and visitors use the Reserve.
Across six weeks of engagement in June and July this year we received
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109 online survey responses,
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13 written submissions, and
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531 people visited the Have Your Say page.
Many great suggestions were made during the engagement process, including what community felt should be included in the plans, and other general comments about the layout of facilities. These have been considered, and where appropriate changes have been made to the plan.
We look forward to sharing the final Masterplan with community and stakeholders following the Authority Board’s anticipated endorsement in October. Once adopted, the next step is to implement the identified actions in the Masterplan over the next ten years as funding is secured.
It is anticipated that the first stage of works will commence in early 2024.
Works to construct and improve accommodation at the Reserve are funded through a $2 million grant from the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) Camping Uplift for the Great Ocean Road Region – Apollo Bay grant, $940,000 from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change (DEECA) Great Ocean Road Visitor Experience Uplift grant and $200,000 in-kind from the Authority.