Great Ocean Road tourism
Mr CHEESEMAN (South Barwon) (09:50): I would like to say that I am proud of the town of Torquay in my electorate, which will host the new Great Ocean Road Parks and Coast Authority. Torquay is a beautiful seaside community, world famous for its beaches, scenic views and great surfing. Torquay of course is the gateway to the Great Ocean Road, and it is the first stop along the long journey down our coast. I think it is very appropriate that Torquay is the location for the Great Ocean Road coast authority’s head office, and I am very excited to say that it will bring jobs to my community. The new authority will consolidate management from a patchwork of different groups down the coastline and will streamline planning and environment decisions. This will protect the environment and add value to the Great Ocean Road for future generations.
The Great Ocean Road is one of the most popular tourist regions within the state, and of course it has had significant impact as a consequence of the China entry ban. That is why Visit Victoria is rolling out a $5 million campaign to attract tourists from across Australia and key international markets, including Vietnam, India, New Zealand and the United States. The Great Ocean Road is a great place to visit, and I encourage all Victorians to take the opportunity to visit our fantastic region.