Community update following the conclusion of the CRG
The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) recently announced final design plans for infrastructure improvements at Kennett River.
The designs incorporate several improvements: reduced car spaces, essential emergency services access, accessible parking, upgraded bicycle facilities, local resident use parking at the shop, safer footpaths, and a dedicated community gathering space—all contributing to improved local amenity.
After significant consultation the planning approval and design phases are now underway.
Interim traffic management changes championed by our community in 2024, provided valuable insights, demonstrating that infrastructure improvements can and do produce positive outcomes.
When selected for the Community Reference Group (CRG), Jules and I were entrusted with 3 primary objectives, for which we diligently advocated:
1. No Large Buses
2. A Green Space Hub
3. Elimination of the Roundabout
You can revisit the feedback we provided the GORCAPA Project Team in September 2024 here.
Suffice to say, no plan will satisfy all stakeholders and compromise has to be made. The final design is an important step in reducing carrying capacity at Kennett River and promoting sustainable tourism for our region. It complements the Great Ocean Road Coastal Trail project—providing the essential infrastructure and planning framework for an improved visitor experience. The final plan, addresses two of our three requests - the exclusion of large buses and the creation of an improved, centralised green space or ‘community hub’.
GORCAPA has demonstrated reasonable responsiveness to community feedback about the unconventional roundabout, by committing to the installation of bollards to enhance pedestrian safety at Kafe Koala. You can read more about that in the What We Did With ‘What We Heard’ Report.
While a roundabout with vehicles entering and circulating in an anti-clockwise direction is unconventional, KCAG expects that GORCAPA will address any post-implementation concerns should challenges arise.
This project commenced with an initial budget of $3.69 million. Since 2020, given the extensive community consultation efforts, a considerable amount of that funding has been expended.
Given the money and time already spent on consultation, any further delays are untenable, especially considering the community's genuine concern that additional postponements could jeopardise this funding opportunity altogether.
The CRG process, though not without its challenges, was both extensive and robust - shaping the project's direction within its constraints, and informing future strategic planning.
Earlier this week, the Times News Group reached out to us for comment. You can read the full article below.
KCAG CRG members have provided comprehensive and constructive feedback to GORCAPA, aiming to refine their engagement with other communities moving forward. This correspondence was well received by interim Chief Executive Officer, Christine Ferguson.
Jules and I are grateful to have been part of the CRG, and we are proud of the working relationships we have formed with GORCAPA staff along the way.
If you would like to chat, you are very welcome to reach out.
Cheers,
El on behalf of our team
Kennett Community Action Group - President
P.S. We acknowledge we have not spoken to the Family Caravan Park Masterplan, that is because we were not in a position to represent, or speak on behalf of our camping community, not being campers ourselves.
