The Lorne Habitat Restoration Project is part of our ongoing efforts to protect and enhance the natural, cultural and heritage values of the Great Ocean Road coast and parks. The project is guided by the Coastal Vegetation Strategy, which outlines our vision and objectives for managing coastal vegetation along the Great Ocean Road.
We conducted a community engagement process from 13 June 2023 to 16 July 2023 to seek your ideas and concerns on the project. The Have Your Say website is where you submitted feedback, as well as at our in-person community conversations where we presented information and discussed the project. We received 23 submissions online, 32 people attended the events, and one emailed submission from Friends of Lorne.
Your valuable feedback helped us understand your perspectives and expectations, as well as identify the key issues and opportunities for the habitat restoration works. Some of the main themes that emerged include:
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The benefits of habitat restoration for biodiversity, wildlife, climate change adaptation, and visitor experience.
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How habitat restoration impacts wildlife
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The aesthetics of the foreshore after Coast Tea-Tree removal and how to ensure it remains attractive and inviting.
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The communication and consultation process and how to keep you informed and involved in the project.
The report also outlines how we will use this feedback to inform decision making and future actions. We’re committed to considering your feedback when restoring habitat, including timing, methods, monitoring, and revegetation.
The works to remove Coast Tea-tree will begin the week starting August 21, 2023. During this period, we’ll monitor the site, including photopoint and transect monitoring, to measure the outcomes of the project.
The site will be immediately revegetated starting with a community planting day in September which we invite you to attend. You be able to take part in replanting indigenous vegetation alongside our coastal rangers. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the work we do, meet our team, and contribute to restoring the Lorne foreshore. This event will be advertised widely in the coming weeks.