Great Ocean Road and Environs Protection Act 2020.

The purposes of this Act are (a) to recognise the importance of the Great Ocean Road and its environs to the economic prosperity and liveability of Victoria, and as one living and integrated natural entity, for the purposes of protecting that area; and (b) to provide for the declaration of areas of land and water known as the Great Ocean Road region and the Great Ocean Road scenic landscapes area; and (c) to provide for the declaration of an area of public land and water known as the Great Ocean Road coast and parks; and (d) to set out principles to which responsible entities must have regard when performing functions or exercising powers in relation to the Great Ocean Road coast and parks; and (e) to establish the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority; and (f) to provide for the development, implementation and monitoring of an overarching strategic framework plan for the Great Ocean Road region; and (g) to amend the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability Act 2003 to impose new reporting requirements in relation to the Great Ocean Road coast and parks; and (h) to amend the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to provide for the interaction between a Great Ocean Road strategic framework plan and planning schemes; and (i) to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
The Act is organized in 23 Sections. Section 5 and Schedule 1 identify Heritage river areas; Section 6 and Schedule 2 Natural catchment areas. Section 7 provides for powers and duties of managing authorities. Section 8, 8A, 8B, 8C and 9 regulate management plans. If requested by the Minister, a managing authority of all or part of a heritage river area or natural catchment area or the Catchment Management Authority for the area, must prepare a management plan including matters specified by the Minister (Section 8) The power to make, amend or revoke a management plan is subject to disallowance by a House of the Parliament (Section 8A). Section 9 clarifies the contents of management plans.
From Section 10 to 13 the Act disciplines land and water uses that are respectively not permitted in heritage river areas; specific land and water uses for particular heritage river areas; land and water uses which are not permitted in natural catchment areas; and specific land and water uses for particular natural catchment areas. Section 14 concerns public land in a heritage river area or natural catchment area is not to be disposed of.