Bass Coast Mayor’s Message

By Cr Michael Whelan

Bass Coast is on the cusp of something special – and we’re about to share our secret with the world.

This week Council unveiled visual plans for the proposed Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail, an iconic tourist destination, which will celebrate our region’s rich prehistoric past and promises to project us to a global audience.

Detailed design plans for the first stage of the unique experience spans six creative sites across Inverloch, The Caves, Eagles Nest, Wonthaggi, Kilcunda and San Remo plus a digital overlay that spans the entire experience. Each site draws on a narrative that relates to the special environment inhabited by Victoria’s polar dinosaurs 125 million years ago.

The site-specific visitor experiences will incorporate sophisticated technology, including sensors, LED lighting, immersive 3D animations, audio-visual interaction and a digital field guide to deliver a world-class narrative of discovery and exploration.

The Dinosaurs Trail is a game changer. It will bring a unique tourism experience to regional Victoria and will be the largest destination scientifically-based dinosaur experience in Victoria, outside the Melbourne Museum.

Unbeknownst to many, Bass Coast had the world’s most diverse range of polar dinosaurs. It was the site of Australia’s first dinosaur fossil discovery in 1903, has the oldest and most diverse Australian mammal fossils, and was home to the last of a group of giant amphibians.

This history deserves to be celebrated and shared.

But, in order to bring this exciting experience to reality, we need others to align with our vision and the potential this has to attract thousands of visitors to Bass Coast, as well as create jobs and investment in our region.

The first stage of the Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail will cost in the vicinity of $18 million.

It is a weighty asset, but economic estimates show it will attract thousands of visitors to the region. Opening sites on the Dinosaurs Trail in 2026 would increase annual tourist numbers by up to 20 per cent, with forecasts of new visitation of almost 100,000 people a year by 2035.

This would significantly benefit our local economy, with projections showing the Dinosaurs Trail is likely to inject an additional $34 million into the economy in the first 10 years.

Council is seeking partnerships and funding opportunities from government and private enterprise to help bring the Trail to life.

We are working hard to capitalise on the special piece of history we have here in Bass Coast and have held discussions with federal and state governments to ensure the region gets a fair share of new infrastructure funding to help drive our tourism industry.

The Dinosaurs Trail will connect with the State Government’s Yallock Bulluk Access and Infrastructure Plan and give locals and visitors an opportunity to traverse Bunurong Country and retrace dinosaur footsteps across an ancient landscape. The Trail will create more than 400 jobs, but more importantly a nature-based sustainable visitor experience that will help inform young minds for generations to come.