Apollo Bay Harbour Redevelopment

Project background

We are revitalising the Apollo Bay Harbour precinct to improve public access, enhance maritime operations, and create a more inviting and functional space for the community, visitors, and local industry. 

Community engagement for the project has now concluded, following extensive consultation that informed the design and planning stages.

Feedback helped shape the final concept for the harbour precinct, ensuring it reflects community values and supports the area’s cultural, recreational, and working harbour identity. 

With planning and design nearing completion, construction works are scheduled to commence in August 2026. 

The $12.61 million redevelopment of the Apollo Bay Harbour will provide an improved visitor experience and broaden the commercial and recreational opportunities in the precinct.

The project will deliver:

• upgrades to the Fisherman’s Cooperative building to improve commercial operations and boost the visitor experience with a new outdoor terrace providing more space and seating to enjoy the much-loved co-op fish and chips
• return of the wet fish market  
• improved public open spaces, including a new viewing deck to give visitors a fantastic outlook over the port and coastline 
• strengthening of the sea wall and a safer new Port Operations Depot, now redesigned to prevent significant excavation into the dune that has been found to include important cultural heritage  
• improvements to the Mothers Beach car park and better pedestrian connections   

Please check this webpage for construction updates, access changes, and key project milestones as the redevelopment moves forward. 

If you would like to read through previous engagement materials or learn more about the engagement process, please visit the project’s Have Your Say page.

Changes to public access during construction

During construction, there are important changes to public access around the Co-Op and harbour.

These are about ensuring worker and public safety in what will be an active construction site. 

We ask everyone to follow all advice, signage and not enter fenced off areas, including Trafalgar Street. 

Mothers Beach carpark / Mothers Beach 

• The Mothers Beach carpark will be CLOSED to the public during construction. It will be used as a staging area for materials and equipment, before also being upgraded as part of the project. 

• Mothers Beach and the foreshore itself remain OPEN and can be accessed via the beach access point adjacent to the skate park.

• Signage will be installed marking the open/safe pedestrian route.  There will be NO pedestrian access along Trafalgar Street.

Harbour sea wall 

• During construction, public access to the harbour sea wall via Trafalgar Street will be CLOSED. 

• Harbor sea wall access will be OPEN via the steps off the sand on Mothers Beach - which can be accessed via the beach access point adjacent to the skate park.

Boom gate - Trafalgar Street

• A boom gate will be installed on Trafalgar Street, near the intersection with Breakwater Road

• This will be a secure work site access point, with contractors and relevant harbor users completing a safety acknowledgment and provided codes / a phone application to access the site as required. It is NOT a public access point. 

• Emergency services and Australian Border Force will have un-restricted access as required. 

Commercial & recreation harbor users 

• Co-Op staff, harbor workers, registered commercial fishers and recreational vessels mooring in the harbor will complete safety acknowledgment forms and be provided boom gate codes / phone application so they can access the harbor via Trafalgar Street. 

• This will provide safe / limited access along Trafalgar Street down to the harbour only, with the rest of the site off limits as an active construction site. 

Apollo Bay Golf Club

• The Golf Club remains OPEN, but there will be some areas near the Mothers Beach carpark fenced off. This will not impact club operations or any course holes / tees. 

• There will be restricted access via a designated pathway to the Golf Club shed for authorised club staff.

Mobile food truck operator 

Point Bunbury boat ramp and carpark 

Project Updates

07/08-2026

Experienced construction company Bowden Corporation has been appointed to deliver this vital project to enhance the harbour precinct. 

Selected through a competitive tender process, Bowden Corporation brings a strong track record in delivery across the Great Ocean Road region, with the team also currently completing the Point Grey redevelopment in Lorne on track for completion later this year.

Major works will commence in August 2026, with completion by mid-2027. 

12/05/2026

The project includes:  

• upgrades to the Fisherman’s Cooperative building to improve commercial operations and boost the visitor experience with a new outdoor terrace providing more space and seating to enjoy the much-loved co-op fish and chips and the return of the wet fish market  
• improved public open spaces, including a new viewing deck to give visitors a fantastic outlook over the port and coastline 
• strengthening of the sea wall and a safer new Port Operations Depot, now redesigned to prevent significant excavation into the dune that has been found to include important cultural heritage  
• improvements to the Mothers Beach car park and better pedestrian connections   

info@greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au 

1300 736 533