Camping Uplift for the Great Ocean Road Region - Apollo Bay
Project background
The Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve (the Reserve) is located just outside of central Apollo Bay, beside the football oval and alongside the Barham River.
The Reserve is home to the Apollo Bay Football Netball Club, Apollo Bay Cricket Club, Apollo Bay Tennis Club, the annual Apollo Bay & Otway District Agricultural Show and the Pony Club area on the other side of the Great Ocean Road. There are a variety of camping options and a small number of basic ensuite cabins.
Project update - October 2022
In response to feedback from the community and stakeholders, the Authority will defer plans to uplift camping facilities at the Reserve until the completion of a Masterplan.
Following a series of in-person and online engagement sessions and an online survey across May and June, the overwhelming community sentiment was to complete the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve Masterplan before the camping uplift, originally proposed for the second half of 2022..
The Authority has listened to the community and our first priority will be the Masterplan, a 10-year vision for the precinct including the camping ground and sports and recreational facilities. The Masterplan will guide the delivery of the camping uplift project, which remains fully funded.
The Authority will also review scope of the uplift plans in response to updated advice that has significantly increased the extent of works required to manage flood risk. It is also expected that future flood modelling may increase the severity of risk due to rising sea levels and climate change.
The next stage of the Masterplan process will be the development of an issues and opportunities paper. This will further investigate the appropriate use and safe development of the reserve, based on site constraints and community and stakeholder feedback.
More information on the Masterplan can be seen below.
Summaries of community feedback including the Masterplan ‘Issues and Opportunities’ What We Heard document and the Camping Uplift What We Heard document, along with a complete Engagement Report can also be seen in the links below. The Camping Uplift Concept Plans include the following:
Project information
The Great Ocean Road Region - Apollo Bay project is a significant step towards ensuring camping is a viable accommodation option for more visitors to Apollo Bay.
The project is funded as part of the Tourism Infrastructure Program – Flagship projects for the region that was announced in the Victorian Government’s $465 million Victorian Tourism Recovery Package. These works are also supported by the Great Ocean Road Visitor Experience Uplift grant from the Victorian Government and the new Changing Places facility is receiving $110,000 funding from the Victorian Government’s Changing Places program.
The project offers numerous benefits for the Apollo Bay region, the broader community and holiday makers to the Great Ocean Road and will make travelling to the iconic Great Ocean Road easier for people with disability.
Click the tabs below to learn more about the Masterplan and the Camping Uplift Concept Plan.
Masterplan
A masterplan for the Reserve is being prepared in 2022, funded by the Camping Uplift for the Great Ocean Road Region – Apollo Bay project.
The masterplan will establish a shared vision for the precinct to guide and manage change, whilst conserving and enhancing the natural, cultural, coastal, tourism and local community values of the area.
It will create a 10-year vision for the Reserve, including developments from the Camping Uplift Concept Plan design phase . The masterplan will be delivered in consultation with partners, stakeholders and community.
Project Update October 2022
Following community and stakeholder feedback received across May and June this year, the next stage of the Masterplan process will be the development of an issues and opportunities paper. This will further investigate the appropriate use and safe development of the reserve, based on site constraints and community and stakeholder feedback.
Camping Uplift Concept Plan
The Camping Uplift Concept Plans included the following:
- Installation of 10 unique, all season and DDA compliant camping accommodation offerings
- Installation of 10 glamping accommodation offerings
- Delivery of associated accessible facilities including a Changing Places facility, picnic facilities and all abilities playground
- Delivery of additional powered and unpowered camp sites with provisional locations (final campsite locations will be determined during the masterplan engagement)
- Refurbishment of existing camping facilities, including amenities and kitchens, fire safety improvement works and guest Wi-Fi.
The proposed improvements will expand and enhance the common area for all campers, visitors and Reserve users to access BBQ, picnic and playground facilities, including new all abilities play equipment, and upgrade the existing toilet and shower amenity block in this area to provide a Changing Places facility.
These upgrades will improve the utilisation of the Reserve year-round and offer an enhanced visitor experience.
Our thanks to all engaged groups and individuals for their feedback and insights which have guided the development of the Camping Uplift Concept Plan.
Have your say
CONSULTATION NOW CLOSED
Community engagement for the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve Masterplan opened in late May 2022.
The masterplan will create a 10-year vision for the Reserve, including developments from the Camping Uplift Concept Plan design phase.
To ensure the masterplan reflects the natural, cultural, tourism and local community aspirations, it will be delivered in consultation with partners, stakeholders and community.
Feedback has been sought on current and future uses of the Reserve, including the revised version of the camping uplift concept plan.
What engagement has been done to date?
A project Community Reference Group was established to guide the development of Phase One of the project. This group included local community representatives, recreation reserve user groups and disability consultants.
In April 2022 this group transitioned into the Stakeholder Reference Group. The Stakeholder Reference Group has an advisory role to assist with guiding the project, informing the development of the camping uplift designs, and participating in the masterplan process.
Membership of the Stakeholder Reference Group includes local representation from the Reserve's sporting groups, twelve-month permit holders of the Reserve's caravan park, the Colac Otway Shire Council, Great Ocean Road Health, the Apollo Bay Chamber of Commerce, Southern Otway Landcare network, an appointed representative from Gambier Street and disability consultants to ensure improvements and upgrades are appropriately considered.
Summaries of the feedback including the Masterplan ‘Issues and Opportunities’ engagement and the Camping Uplift engagement, and a complete Engagement Report can be seen via the below links.
Feedback and FAQ
If you have further comments or questions about the project, we invite you to review the FAQ document, concept plan and contact our Project Team at: ApolloBayRecReserveProject@GreatOceanRoadAuthority.vic.gov.au