To allow for construction works on the redevelopment of Point Grey in Lorne, the site will be temporarily closed to the public and unavailable as a Bushfire Place of Last Resort.
This means that from one week prior to Point Grey becoming a construction site – expected to be in late January or February 2026 - until the redevelopment is completed, the foreshore area along Mountjoy Parade will remain open and serve as Lorne's sole Bushfire Place of Last Resort.
The Point Grey redevelopment is being managed by Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA).
While residents and visitors are always encouraged to enact fire plans and leave early, Bushfire Places of Last Resort are places to attend only when all other bushfire plans have failed. They do not replace a well-thought-out and practised plan; they are simply designated clearings that provide separation distance from the bushfire hazard.
"Due to construction materials and access restrictions during the Point Grey redevelopment works, the site will not meet legal requirements to be a Bushfire Place of Last Resort," Surf Coast Shire Cr Leon Walker said.
"We - along with other agencies, GORCAPA and the local CFA - will let the community once we can confirm the date this change will take effect, but it will likely be in the early months of 2026, potentially in late January or February."
"However, Lorne currently has two designated Bushfire Places of Last Resort, so the foreshore area along Mountjoy Parade will continue to serve this role while the Point Grey site is not available."
"I want to stress that Bushfire Places of Last Resort are just that – a last resort when all your plans have failed. We still urge everyone to have a solid fire action plan and leave early," he said.
Council approval is required to commission and decommission a Bushfire Place of Last Resort.
Once the Point Grey redevelopment is completed, the site will be assessed for suitability before Surf Coast Shire Council can recommission the site.
Following the 2009 Black Saturday fires and the recommendations from the Bushfires Royal Commission, Victorian councils must identify, designate, establish and maintain suitable Bushfire Places of Last Resort locations that may provide some protection from direct flame and heat from a fire, but they do not guarantee safety.
Stay informed and prepare for the fire season: surfcoast.vic.gov.au/FireReady.
