2024 Lorne Pier User Survey - Engagement Summary Report

PORT OF LORNE 2024 LORNE PIER USER SURVEY

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge and respect the separate and distinct Eastern Maar and Wadawurrung Peoples as the Traditional Owners of the Great Ocean Road’s land, waters, seas and skies and acknowledge their cultural knowledge that has led to sustainable practices and has cared for Country over tens of thousands of years.

We honour Elders past and present and express gratitude for their sharing of wisdom that has ensured the continuation of Culture and Traditional practices.

We are committed to genuinely partner and meaningfully build relationships that reflect self-determination and enable us to work together with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities to support the protection of Country, the maintenance of spiritual and cultural practices, and together deliver on their broader aspirations in the 21st century and beyond.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT OUTLINE HOW WE ENGAGED WHAT WE HEARD NEXT STEPS 6 7 10 17

This project is on Eastern Marr Country.

We work closely with the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation to conserve and protect Cultural values along the coast in Lorne.

INTRODUCTION

OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITMENT

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (the Authority) is immensely privileged to be tasked with protecting and enhancing the Great Ocean Road’s coast and parks on behalf of the community.

Our commitment is to listen, engage, respect, and echo the views of our community and stakeholders in all we undertake, following our Community Engagement Strategy

We are committed to being transparent and open with our communities and building and deepening relationships grounded in reciprocity and trust. Through various channels, mediums, and engagement spaces, we will invite feedback, robust discussion, and reflection to strengthen our connections and common purpose.

PROJECT OUTLINE

The Lorne Pier is a popular destination frequented by locals, tourists, and anglers for recreation and fishing. Located in the heart of Lorne, the pier is a bustling hub of activity, with more than 90,000 visitors recorded on average each month during the peak season, from November to January and public holidays.

The Authority manages the Port of Lorne, including the pier. The Authority is responsible for the safe, efficient, and effective management of the port.

The satisfaction of users of the Lorne Pier is important to the Authority. In March and April 2024, we undertook the 2024 Lorne Pier User Survey to better understand how the pier is used and the community’s satisfaction levels with its environmental management, public safety, and accessibility. We were also seeking to identify any improvements that could be made to the way we manage the pier.

HOW WE ENGAGED

In March 2024, we launched a Have Your Say webpage and survey to gather input from community members who use the Lorne Pier. The opportunity to provide feedback on user satisfaction, management and overall experience was advertised through signs located at the pier, flyers at local Lorne shops and cafes, social media posts, an email to community groups and online subscribers to the Authority’s Have Your Say webpage, and two community drop-in sessions at the pier.

The online community survey was open from 17 March to 14 April 2024, covering the busy Easter holiday period and school holidays.

We received 101 online survey responses and had conversations with more than 40 pier users across the two in-person engagements.

HOW WE ENGAGED...

We heard that users like that the pier provides a good view of the Lorne township from the water, is a safe space for all users, and is a good destination for a morning walk or a place to rest and take in the marine life and coastal views. All 44 female respondents (43%) shared that they feel safe while visiting the pier and enjoy the pier for its magnificent ocean views and community atmosphere.

WHAT WE HEARD

Throughout the engagement process, respondents shared valuable knowledge and insights into how the pier is used, and their aspirations for the maintenance and conservation of the pier and the surrounding marine environment. We heard from a range of different voices.

GRAPH 1: Responses to “Describe your connection to Lorne.”

Graph 3. Survey response to the question ‘How do you use the pier?’

We heard that 82% of respondents use the pier all throughout the year, while 14% use the pier solely during the summer and public holiday periods. Users undertook a variety of activities at the pier, as showcased in Graph 1 above. To undertake these activities users spent between 30 minutes (52%) and up to an hour (30%) visiting the pier, typically between 9am and 5pm (76%).

“Many thousands of people over many years have fished from the pier and had great enjoyment from this pastime. I watched a six-year-old boy catch his first fish. His excitement and joy were contagious and a pleasure to see by all near him at the end of the pier.”

“The pier is a well-loved destination. However, I’d like to see it better taken care of from visitors and the Authority to preserve its linkages to the natural environment.”

“The pier is a fantastic destination to visit and holds a special place in the hearts of many with long associations with Lorne.”

GRAPH 2: Gender representation of survey respondents.

KEY POINTS RAISED AND OUR RESPONSE

We received a variety of responses to the survey and at the community drop-in sessions, with some concerns raised about the overall maintenance of the pier as well as some ideas for improvement to enhance user experience. The following is a summary of key points raised:

Cleanliness and Environmental Management

We heard that you are concerned about the cleanliness of the pier, including discarded fishing line, hooks, and litter impacting user safety and the marine environment. Respondents felt that the current waste and fishing line bins at the pier - and the regularity of waste collection patrols - are insufficient for the amount of waste discarded. It was also noted that some pier users do not use the bins at all.

“I walk at the pier every day and pick up handfuls of dumped fishing line. There needs to be more education for visitors about littering.”

“It

is a well-builtwonderful facility, but insufficiently and irregularly cleaned.”.

“Why

take notice from a report that might happen over the next twenty years. Just make it safe for the next ten years rather than closing the track down.”

"Our response to what we heard

We are committed to taking proactive steps to enhance the cleanliness and safety of all our public infrastructure, including the Lorne Pier. During peak times, in summer and on long weekends, our Lorne foreshore operations team conduct daily litter patrols at the pier, and bins are collected every other day. During the non-peak periods, litter patrols are conducted twice a week, and bins are collected weekly.

Our foreshore team will be installing additional fishing line recycling bins at the pier, to encourage users to dispose of their fishing waste. We will continue to support and work with community groups to develop approaches to litter. We are developing signage guidelines that will apply across the entire Great Ocean Road coast and parks region. Improved signs at the pier, that provide education on marine wildlife and promote responsible public behaviour to combat littering, will be considered through the guidelines.

Accessibility

The overall accessibility of the pier has been praised by most respondents. Pier users enjoy walking to the pier from town and shared that there was adequate pedestrian access, car parking and toilet facilities near the pier. Users with physical disabilities and those who use mobility aids shared that they enjoy coming to the pier and viewing the marine life, while safely accessing ocean views.

Some respondents expressed concern about the potential trip hazard that could be created if the timber pier decking continues to degrade.

Numerous survey respondents and those we spoke to in person requested more seating on the lower deck at the end of the pier, as this would improve accessibility and not obstruct views from the main deck.

Safety and Security

Feedback showed that most users feel safe while at the pier. Many respondents commented on the diversity of visitors to the pier and their experience of a welcoming and inclusive community atmosphere. However, concern was expressed that the waste from fishing activities, including discarded hooks, bait and fishing line, causes unnecessary risk to public safety. Some respondents feel unsafe at the pier sometimes due to antisocial behaviour, especially during the peak periods.

“It is a great place to visit with my family, however there is a lack of both seating and lighting below the pier.” “I like that the pier is easy to visit - either park

close by or walk from the main beach. I like the pier because it can take you out to sea- without needing a boat! We often see wildlife at the pierstingrays, octopus, seals, and penguins.”

Our response to what we heard

“The pier is accessible for me with my walker, I really enjoy coming to the pier, it is a beautiful place.”

“The pier is kept in very good condition making it safe to access in all weather.”

“I love taking my kids to the pier, however, more needs to be done to improve the landscaping and overall feel of the pier area.”

“I have only encounteredeverlovely warm people on the pier, including all the fishermen and women.”

"We appreciate community support for ensuring the pier remains accessible for all visitors to enjoy. The Authority is keen to work with communities along the Great Ocean Road coast to improve beach access and provide adequate amenities and accessible infrastructure.

We appreciate the concerns raised regarding maintenance and replacement of the pier’s timber decking. Maintaining a safe and accessible pier is a priority. We undertake regular assessments of the condition of the timber decking of the pier to ensure user safety. We note that some timber is showing signs of wear and are exploring options for decking replacements. Pier users are encouraged to report any concerns to the team at: info@greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au.

We will explore funding opportunities to install seating at the pier, to enhance the experience for visitors and improve accessibility.

""Our response to what we heard

It is great to see that most users of the Lorne Pier are respectful, ensuring that all visitors can have a safe and positive experience. We also acknowledge that some users have shared that they have felt unsafe at times while visiting the pier, and we recognise that anti-social public behaviour is not isolated to this location. We work closely with local authorities and other emergency services to discourage anti-social behaviour along the coast and provide measures such as adequate lighting and visibility. Pleasingly, there have been no reported safety incidents at the pier since we began managing the site in 2020. We encourage pier users to report any hazards or incidents to assist in future management. Please report any safety concerns including malfunction of navigation aids or lighting, to info@greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au or 1300 736 533.

Signage

Just above half (55%) of respondents were satisfied with the current signage at the Lorne Pier. We received 18 comments that strongly expressed that there is too much signage at the pier, while others requested more. Some users felt the signage is unclear, particularly relating to dog restrictions. 21 comments suggested that the pier could benefit from visual educational signage around the environmental consequences of littering, to reduce the amount of waste and promote responsible user behaviour. Some respondents shared that they would like to see more signage information on the history of the pier.

NEXT STEPS

Your valuable input has helped us to better understand how you use and value the Lorne Pier. This information will guide our management of the pier and assist us in tracking changes and monitoring trends in pier use and satisfaction levels over time.

Our commitment to evidence-based decision-making means that we will always consider community feedback, alongside Aboriginal inclusion, environmental outcomes, social outcomes, and funding requirements to apply management solutions.

We will now review our management priorities, to align with community expectations for safety and environmental management at the pier.

“The signs are fit for purpose, but I would love to see more information,historical and improved clarity of the current signs.”

“Visitors need educational signage to warn of the dangers of littering in this precious marine environment.”

THANK YOU

Thank -you for engaging with us on how you use the Lorne Pier. Providing your feedback helps us to better understand the key issues concerning the community and visitors, and ensures we are listening, respecting, and reflecting community views in our management approach. We are committed to meeting the needs of the community and visitors now and for generations to come.

"Our response to what we heard

We value the diverse feedback on the current signage at the pier. We will incorporate this feedback into the development of our signage guidelines and our management approach.

You can access information on dog restrictions in Lorne, beaches and in public areas on the Surf Coast Shire webpage. You can also download the Surf Coast Shire Dog Regulations map.