Thank you to everyone who participated in this engagement and helping shape the future of events at the Port Campbell Recreation Reserve. We are pleased to share a summary of what we heard from this engagement.

In late 2025, after the Great Vic Bike Ride stopped in Port Campbell and brought energy and visitors to the town. We asked the community to share their experiences and thoughts on future events at the Port Campbell Recreation Reserve. The survey was open from 28 November to 19 December 2025 and received 16 responses from people aged 30–79. We asked about the event’s impact, preferred event types and timing at the Recreation Reserve, and what could be improved for future large‑scale events.

Why we asked?

We wanted your insights to help:

• Guide decisions about future large-scale events at the Rec Reserve.
• Ensure events reflect your values, needs, and aspirations.
• Explore new opportunities to bring economic, social, and community benefits to the region

Who we heard from

We heard from a mix of people, who live in Port Campbell (63%) or in a neighbouring town (31%), work locally (19%), own business in town (13%) or visit regularly (13%).

Event impacts on the community

Based on the latest large-scale event to visit the Recreation Reserve, the Great Vic Bike Ride, we asked what benefits were noticed and what could be improved for future large-scale events.

Community members identified benefits of large-scale events as:

• Economic activity: Increased mid‑week accommodation bookings and higher patronage at some businesses.
• Positive tourism behaviours: People liked that riders visited the region in a low impact way.
• Connection to local history: Activities such as the Historical Hall opening encouraged engagement with community stories.

'Accommodation had an increase for mid-week'
'It increased the amount of people and customers throughout Port Campbell'

Improvements when hosting future large-scale events:

• Community services: Consider disruptions to childcare services and find alternative arrangements.
• Internet services: Improve communications infrastructure so it can support event demand, preventing disruptions of mobile coverage and internet access.
• Communication and local involvement: Some residents missed key information about the event, highlighting the need for earlier, clearer communication. The community also wants to see opportunities for more local businesses and groups to be actively involved.
• Impacts on residential streets: Improve management of parking and traffic to prevent overflow into residential streets and maintain local access.

‘Families rely on childcare to work…’
'Need earlier, clearer communication channels’
‘Phone coverage needs urgent improvement’

Preferred timing for large-scale events

• Most suitable: Spring (Sept–Nov)
• Least suitable: Summer (Dec–Feb)

Event types community would like to see

We asked what types of events you would like to see at the recreation reserve that could bring vibrancy and benefits to the town.

Top event preferences included:

• Sporting events (50%)
• Music and arts festivals (31%)
• Food and wine events (25%)
• Community markets (25%)
• Cultural celebrations (25%)

Overall support for future events

• 50% are supportive of hosting large‑scale events
• 31% are neutral
• 19% are not supportive