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NEW caravan and camping parks along Victoria's iconic Great Ocean Road
have been suggested in a tourism study.
The Corangamite Shire-commissioned study has pinpointed 17 preferred
locations across the shire to snare travellers and boost visitor numbers.
But the council has been swamped with submissions criticising the way the
tourism study was conducted after it was disclosed that private land would
have to be rezoned.
The study followed a previous survey to determine the needs, habits and
expectations of visitors to Corangamite.
A 32-question survey about a year ago was designed to find out why
tourists visited the shire, their length of stay, accommodation choices,
activities, expenditure and visitor satisfaction levels with the region’s
offerings.
Surveys were conducted in Port Campbell, Port Campbell National Park
(Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge), Timboon and Peterborough.
The latest study found there was insufficient accommodation for visitors
and did not capitalise on the demand for nature-based tourism.
The has council decided to refer both the tourism study and the draft
planning scheme amendment allowing rezoning to an independent planning
panel, with a hearing set down for November 7.
Mayor Matt Makin told media the council was happy to accept late
submissions and ask the panel to consider them in its deliberations.
But he added: "It does seem there is an orchestrated campaign being
organised from metropolitan Melbourne."
