GORCN

Helen Keller’s comment, ‘Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much,’ reflects some of the early thinking behind the establishment of the Great Ocean Road Communities Network (GORCN).

In August the inaugural meeting of community groups along the Great Ocean Road was held on Zoom to form an effective voice to government and other organisations on issues of importance to the social, environmental, economic and cultural future of their communities.

Many of the thorny issues faced by one community, such as overtourism, strain on local amenity, rising flow-on tourism costs to the community, tourism revenue leakage, degradation of sensitive habitat and coastline, traffic issues, fire risk, low-season lack of economic viability, etc., are experienced by many communities along the Great Ocean Road.

GORCN’s foundational principles:

Groups in the network share common ground, in that all are committed to:

• coastal and bush protection and regeneration
• thriving, diverse local communities
• limitations on tourist numbers
• community involvement with relevant decision- making
• recognition of climate change, the need to act to mitigate its causes and to address its risks
• protection of local character
• nature-based and regenerative tourism
• analysis and communication of tourism’s invisible costs
• evidence-based research to establish the carrying capacity of the Great Ocean Road
• an agreed set of indicators to monitor Great Ocean Road conditions
• appropriate infrastructure provision consistent with the above.

GORCN will be a strong advocate for all the communities along the road whilst protecting and enhancing their diverse, distinctive natures. The network also wants to extend its membership and work collaboratively with the new authority.

Anglesea Community Network (ACN)

Peter Doyle 

Janet Harvey 

Friends of Lorne 

Penny Hawe 
Mary Lush 

Greater Torquay Alliance 

Darren Noyes-Brown
Andrew Cherubin

Save Anglesea 

David Birrell
Michael Collins

Wye River Separation Creek Community Association 

Peter Christoff 
Greg Hocking 

Otway Forum 

Peter Fillmore 

Aireys Inlet and District Association (AIDA) 

Charlotte Allen
Chris Ryan

Geelong Environment Council 

Joan Lindros
Jan Calaby