Marine Parks - March 2025

We’ve been appointed to take on land management responsibility for seven unique Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries (Marine Parks).

Management responsibility for the Marine Parks transferred to us from Parks Victoria, on 1 March 2025.

Marine National Parks exist to protect Victoria’s unique and diverse marine ecosystem and the many plants and animals that live in them.

The seven Marine Parks for which management has been transferred today (1 March 2025) are within the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks boundaries and comprise Sea Country of both the Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC) and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC):

The Point Danger Marine Sanctuary, Point Addis Marine National Park, and Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary are on Wadawurrung Country, located within the Registered Aboriginal Party area of Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

The Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary, the Merri Marine Sanctuary, the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park, and the Arches Marine Sanctuary, are located on Gadubanud, Kirrae Whurrung, and Peek Whurrung Country, forming part of the Sea Country of the Eastern Maar Nation. These areas are located within the Registered Aboriginal Party area of Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.

We are working closely with Parks Victoria to ensure a smooth transition.

Parks Victoria staff will continue to be visible in the area, as they will maintain their role in monitoring and caring for the land during the transition period.

Parks Victoria are providing expert support in conservation science and environmental works to ensure that environmental conservation objectives are met.

This is the third in a series of land management responsibility transfers to the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority which increases our management responsibility by 12,146 hectares, to a total of 20,228 hectares, and further reduces the fragmented management of the public land from Point Impossible to the Hopkins River.

Since our establishment in 2020 as the dedicated parks manager for the iconic coast and parks of the Great Ocean Road, there have been significant advances toward holistic management of this precious living asset. Today we have management responsibility for coastal reserves previously managed by 11 different entities.

View the parcels that are transferring(PDF, 3MB)

Why are land management transfers taking place?

The coast and parks along the Great Ocean Road are so special, and so important to Victorians, that the Victorian Government established the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (the Authority) as a dedicated coast and parks manager.

We will have responsibility to protect and manage visitation of the coast and parks along the full length of the Great Ocean Road. We will provide a holistic approach to address the impacts of increasing visitation, environmental processes, severe weather events and climate change.

As the dedicated coast and parks manager our purpose is to protect, conserve, enhance and manage public land. We are also the designated lead agency for visitation management policy, planning and infrastructure by responsible entities along the Great Ocean Road.

The Great Ocean Road and Environs Protection Act 2020 provides for the management responsibility of approximately 700 parcels of land and sea be transferred to us by 1 November 2025.

All revenue raised on the land we manage is reinvested back into the Great Ocean Road coast and parks, to ensure the special part of the state can be enjoyed now and for generations to come.

What will change following the land management transfers?

Nothing about how these Marine Parks are protected is changing. We’ve been working closely with Parks Victoria to ensure a smooth transition of management responsibility. You should not experience any change in the way you use the areas.

The land remains a National Park and is protected under the National Parks Act as an area designated for conservation.

Who do I contact about my tour operator licence and/or other things?

Parks Victoria will remain the primary point of contact for operational aspects including licences and permits.

Point Danger Marine Sanctuary, Torquay