Part 2: 2 Implementation How will the Strategy be implemented? Implementation of the Great Ocean Road Region Strategy planning permit applications will need to be consistent will involve the Victorian Government, councils, industry with the Strategy. For example, councils will need to be and the community working together to manage the satisfied that proposed development responds to the region’s future development. character of coastal towns and significant landscapes. Support and cooperation will be essential to successful The Implementation Plan is a dynamic document, and implementation of the Strategy. Councils and Victorian will be reviewed every five years to ensure that it remains 2 Government departments and agencies will play a key role relevant and up-to-date. While the Implementation Plan in implementing the Strategy by using it to inform their primarily focuses on short and medium-term initiatives and decision making. Councils will need to understand how actions (commenced within the next year or two years), the directions and initiatives in the Strategy relate to their the key directions of the Strategy are the strategic basis for strategic and statutory land use planning responsibilities, managing growth and change within the region for the and review their processes accordingly. Assessment of next 20 years. Other regional plans and strategies The Great Ocean Road Region Strategy is coordinated weed strategies and local catchment plans. Councils also with other key regional strategies and plans to ensure undertake work that will contribute to the implementation planning for land use and transport is integrated with key of the Strategy, such as specific strategic planning exercises activities such as land and coastal management, water for settlements and coastal action plans. and sewerage infrastructure planning, tourism planning, Key strategies that complement the Great Ocean Road heritage protection and regional development. It will be Region Strategy are: important for the Victorian Government, councils and other agencies to work in partnership to coordinate •Corangamite Regional Catchment Strategy 2003–2008 their initiatives. •Victorian Coastal Strategy 2002 The actions from relevant strategies, such as regional •Victorian Heritage Strategy 2000–2005, including catchment plans and regional tourism plans, will be Shipwrecks 2005 important for the implementation of the Great Ocean Road Region Strategy. This will also mean some key issues, such •Princes Highway West A1 Corridor Strategy – Waurn as biodiversity conservation, will be addressed in more Ponds to South Australian Border detail in related documents such as catchment, coastal •Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism Development Plan and park management plans. 2004–2007 (under preparation) It is acknowledged there is a great deal of more specific •Victoria’s Tourism Industry Strategic Plan 2002–2006 work that will continue to be undertaken in the region and contribute to the implementation of this Strategy. •Victorian Tourism Infrastructure Development Strategy For example, while regional catchment plans provide the (under preparation). overarching framework for natural resource management, These strategies have been addressed in relevant parts of there is a great deal of work that underpins natural the Great Ocean Road Region Strategy. A comprehensive resource management. Such work includes strategies list of relevant strategies, plans and policies is provided in relating to native vegetation management, river health, the Appendix. 9 Great Ocean Road Region Great Ocean Road Region 10 Implementation committee An implementation committee will be established implementation of the Strategy. The committee will also to facilitate the implementation of the Great Ocean provide an information sharing forum on related strategies Road Region Strategy. This committee will have similar such as the Princes Highway West Corridor Strategy and representation to the Steering Committee which oversaw regional tourism strategies. the development of the Strategy. Councils and agencies An Implementation committee will be convened by the will have responsibility for the direct implementation of Department of Sustainability and Environment and meet their initiatives and actions in the Implementation Plan. at least twice a year. Terms of reference will be prepared The committee will support the development of outlining the purpose, responsibilities and operation of the partnerships with other agencies, stakeholders and committee. More specific details of the committee will be community groups to promote understanding and 2 determined at a later date. Funding the Implementation Plan Sources and availability of funding do not form part Funding applications would be subject to prioritisation of the Implementation Plan. The Strategy has been through normal budget processes. Importantly, councils developed cooperatively between the councils and agencies and agencies will be able to use this Strategy and represented on the Steering Committee. As such, individual Implementation Plan to justify future funding bids. agencies have a responsibility to implement relevant The Victorian Government has already provided significant initiatives and apply for funding or form partnerships funding for a number of initiatives identified in this through their own means. This may involve seeking funding Implementation Plan. This includes funding of initiatives from federal and/or Victorian Government programs. for road improvements and public land in the Otways. It also includes initiatives for landscape protection and the development of the Apollo Bay Structure Plan. Implementation Plan This Implementation Plan shows how the strategies The Victorian Government recognises a number of councils underpinning the four major directions of the Great Ocean have already started work on some of the initiatives and Road Region Strategy will be implemented. actions in the Implementation Plan, particularly those relating to landscape character assessment. The Department A brief summary response provides an overall explanation of Sustainability and Environment is providing assistance for the implementation of the Strategy, while an to councils to develop planning controls for landscape accompanying table sets out specific initiatives and actions protection. It will also support the professional development under each strategy. Importantly, the Implementation Plan of planners to improve decision-making capability. identifies a lead agency responsible for implementing each action. It will be the responsibility of the lead agency to The Victorian Government has also made a commitment coordinate and manage the implementation of actions to creating an expanded Otway National Park. The creation of with partner agencies. an expanded national park will contribute significantly to the implementation of the Great Ocean Road Region Strategy. Implementation of the Great Ocean Road Region Strategy will involve the Victorian Government, councils, industry and the community working together to guide the region’s future development. The success of the Strategy rests with the commitment of these stakeholders and their ability to implement the initiatives and actions in a coordinated, consistent and holistic manner. 9 Great Ocean Road Region Great Ocean Road Region 10 Direction 1: Protect the landscape and care for the environment The recommendations contained in VEAC’s Angahook-Otway Strategy 1.1: Strengthen Investigation Draft Proposals Paper, adopted the principles protection for public land of ecologically sustainable development and considered the need to conserve and protect biological diversity, areas and parks of ecological, natural, landscape or cultural significance as well as recreational value or geological significance. Response It also considered the environmental, social and The Victorian Government’s policy commitment to create economic consequences of implementing its proposed ‘a new future for the Otways’ includes the phasing out of recommendations. native forest timber harvesting on public land by 2008, 2 The expansion of protected areas in the Otways will directly the creation of an expanded national park and further implement the priorities of the Great Ocean Road Region protection of other native forest areas. The Department Strategy by providing additional protection to significant of Sustainability and Environment is managing the natural and cultural values in coastal and hinterland areas. phasing-out of timber harvesting. In 2003, the Victorian This expansion will complement recently established Government requested the Victorian Environmental Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries which Assessment Council (VEAC) carry out an investigation of provide high levels of protection for representative marine the public land within the Otway Ranges to determine the ecosystems. Management plans for these areas are being boundaries of: developed by Parks Victoria with community input. • a single national park in the Otway Ranges including The Victorian Government and the community have public land extending from Anglesea to Cape Otway proactively protected land in the region through a range • any other public land currently managed as State of land purchase and planning scheme measures. Forest which would be suitable for addition to existing The Victorian Government, in partnership with the State Parks or nature conservation reserves, or for community, has purchased large areas of land between inclusion in new