Victoria’s Great Ocean Road celebrates its 100th birthday today, but locals fear that climate change and over-popularity is threatening its survival.
Aireys Inlet and District Association President Charlotte Allen says locals would like to tourists spending longer in the area, and less day-trippers.
“One of the real pressure point places is at the memorial arch, it just becomes absolutely crazy with people standing in the middle of the road and people using the bushes for toilets. It’s a nightmare,” Ms Allen said.
The road was driven on by 6.1 million international and domestic tourists who spent $1.4 billion in the year ending March 2019.
Authorities have been called on to undertake a study to determine whether the region’s peak tourism capacity has been reached, and consider measures such as tolls to limit numbers.