Urgent repairs needed on Great Ocean Road after winter storms

A KEY stretch of Victoria’s famous Great Ocean Rd is at risk of washing away as erosion, triggered by severe storms over winter, encroaches on the popular tourist attraction at Apollo Bay.

A KEY stretch of Victoria’s famous Great Ocean Rd is at risk of washing away.

Erosion triggered by severe storms over winter is encroaching on the popular tourist attraction at Apollo Bay.

Urgent works have been ordered to address the problem.

In a report completed last month, civil engineering company GHD found storms in June and July caused significant erosion of the foreshore.

APOLLO BAY CAR PARK, WALKING TRACK DAMAGED BY STORMS

GREAT OCEAN ROAD HELPS DRIVE VICTORIA TOURISM

The erosion escarpment had advanced up to 5m towards the heritage-listed road in just seven weeks.

Erosion at Apollo Bay after storms in June. Picture: Sally Cannon

“VicRoads are concerned that ongoing erosion could threaten the Great Ocean Road,’’ the report noted.

“If no action is taken then further storms could put the Great Ocean Road at risk.”

The most eroded part of the road spans 250m from Cawood St to Marriners Lookout Rd with a sand dune, which had served as a protective buffer, narrowing significantly.

Dunes in the area had been 10m-25m wide but shrank by about 5m during the storms.

In its report, GHD noted that vegetation had been lost and several large cypress trees were at risk.

Drone vision shows significant erosion of the Apollo Bay foreshore caused by storms. Picture: DELWP

“Another series of storms similar to those recently experienced could put the road at risk, noting that a zone of instability extends landward of the erosion escarpment,” it stated.

The state government will this month begin construction of a rock retaining wall to safeguard the Great Ocean Rd.

Labor Upper House MP for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney, said the government had responsibility to ensure it remained “safe and strong.” — calling it a lifeline for coastal communities.

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning program manager Michael Noelker said it had held two public consultation meetings on the problem.

The meetings aimed to provide “valuable insights for the next steps” in dealing with the erosion, Mr Noelker said.

A public survey is open until October 21.

[e-mail]