GOR in call for ‘$25m’

THE Great Ocean Road needs an upgrade more than a World Heritage listing, according to regional council and tourism bodies.
Local municipal alliance body G21 and Geelong Otway Tourism issued a joint statement this week calling for a Federal Government commitment to fund half the proposed $50 million upgrade.
They were responding to an ongoing brawl between Labor Member for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman and Liberal candidate Sarah Henderson.
Mr Cheeseman wants the heritage listing and has accused the Liberals of planning to “dynamite” the road during the upgrade. Ms Henderson has urged him to back the upgrade funding push and rejected his dynamite claim.
G21 chair Ed Coppe said Federal Government should commit $25 million over five years toward the upgrade.
“Generalised support and suggestions that the road should be heritage-listed are all well and good but what the road needs is funding, not more words,” Mr Coppe said.
“The time for words is over. This is too big an issue to trifle with.
“The Great Ocean Road needs a firm financial commitment and it needs that commitment now.”
Mr Coppe urged residents to sign a petition with more than 2100 signatures so far supporting the upgrade.
The petition was available online at OMGreatOceanRoad.net, he said.
Victoria Tourism Industry Council accused Mr Cheeseman of using “misleading” claims in his “scare campaign” on the road.
Mr Cheeseman said he was “standing up for the vast majority” of residents against “the white-shoe brigade”.