Seven unique Marine Parks transfer
Published on 01 March 2025
Today marks another key step toward holistic management of the iconic coast and parks of the Great Ocean Road, with the transfer of land management responsibility seven unique Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries (Marine Parks) to the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA).
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):
- Point Danger Marine Sanctuary
- Point Addis Marine National Park
- Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary
- Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary
- Twelve Apostles Marine National Park
- The Arches Marine Sanctuary
- Merri Marine Sanctuary
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 the 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.
Importantly, the transfer of management responsibilities does not mean any changes to how the Marine Parks are protected.
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.
These areas will continue to be managed under the National Parks Act, and GORCAPA will uphold the same high conservation standards and objectives as previously set by Parks Victoria.
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.