I have much pleasure in making a statement in relation to the Victorian Coastal
Council 2007-08 report. As members of this house would be aware, Victoria boasts
one of the most beautiful coastlines of any state. It has magnificent coastal
scenery, and we have many coastal townships dotted along its coast. The coast is
also responsible for a massive amount of national and international tourism in
this state, with the Great Ocean Road alone attracting 2.4 million domestic
overnight visitors, 6.8 million domestic visitor nights, 4.9 million domestic
daytrip visitors and approximately 150 000 international overnight visitors per
year.
The Great Ocean Road is only part of the state’s beautiful
coastline, which includes the Bellarine Peninsula, the Portland foreshore,
Wilsons Promontory and the Mornington Peninsula, just to name a few areas.
In fact 96 per cent of Victoria’s coast is in public ownership,
allowing for a great diversity of Victorians and interstate visitors alike to
experience holidays, visits or life along the coast, from the small villages to
the city beaches, fabulous holiday destinations, small seaside settlements and
untouched wilderness.