Her statement follows calls by Colac Otway Shire Council for the Great Ocean Road to incorporate a user-pays system as well as a centralised management model and better partnership with the traditional owners.

Shire mayor Joe McCracken said that the concept of user-pays was supported by the council, but it was not suggesting a road toll.

He said what form that user-pays system would take needed more discussion, and might include things such as parking permits and user charges.

A year ago, Corangmaite Shire councillor Bev McArthur showed support for a user-pays system. 

However, Ms Henderson said any ‘user pays’ approach could impact on local communities. 

Ms Henderson said that while tolls must be rejected, major funding for basic tourism infrastructure was desperately required.

“For too long it has relied on local councils to cope with the infrastructure costs imposed by several million visitors,” she said.

Ms Henderson said the lack of visitor facilities had become an embarrassment. “Basic tourism infrastructure such as toilet blocks, picnic tables, better signage, walking tracks, boardwalks, lookouts and improved car and bus car parking are critically needed.”

In response to the Victorian government’s Great Ocean Road Region Issues Paper, the Colac Otway council outlined its vision for how the iconic stretch should be managed.

Cr McCracken said councils were bearing the cost of the visitor economy - such as toilets, waste collection and parking – whereas the profits from these activities are largely enjoyed by businesses outside the region.

“It is our view that there are too many agencies with responsibilities in Great Ocean Road Region, which is contributing to significant duplication of resources, a lack of co-ordination and a lack of planning that is holding appropriate tourism development back,” he said.

Improving roads was one of a number of issues the council identified as matters of high priority.

“A sustainable funding model is critical for the Great Ocean Road, incorporating a user-pays principle that sees visitors contribute to the protection, maintenance and enhancement of the landscape.” The state government has previously ruled out a user-pays approach.