Roam with the Bass Coast dinosaurs

Bass Coast Shire Council is calling on the community to provide their feedback on the draft Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail Masterplan.

The draft Masterplan has been developed by Council, in partnership with, Parks Victoria, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, the Bunurong Land Council, the Science and Research Expertise Committee, along with tourism bodies and community organisations.

The Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail would be a new and unique tourism offering for Gippsland and Victoria more broadly. It would provide the region with a world-class visitor experience at six identified sites along the coast, from San Remo to Inverloch.

Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Brett Tessari said that around 125 million years ago, the Bass Coast was home to a unique and diverse range of polar dinosaurs and prehistoric fauna.

“The Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail aims to amplify the region’s heritage and elevate it as a unique and exciting visitor experience,” Cr Tessari said.

“For more than 40 years, researchers, scientists and hundreds of volunteers have uncovered and researched polar dinosaurs along the Bass Coast. Their work makes the region one of the most significant places in Australia and the world for the discovery of dinosaur fossils.”

Cr Tessari said that community feedback is an essential component for the development of the Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail.

“The Trail will be an experience of dinosaur discovery, learning and creativity. A journey that links together history, community, culture and environment,” Cr Tessari said.

“We want to hear from everyone to make sure that this very exciting project is on the right track.”

Opportunities to provide feedback include online and in-person drop in sessions, as well as an online survey.

The Masterplan, as well as a link to the survey, can be found at www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/dinotrail. Hardcopies of the Masterplan are also available to access at Council’s Customer Service Centres, in Wonthaggi, Cowes, Grantville and Inverloch.

Drop in sessions will be held at:

• Online: Wednesday, 18 August, from 7.00pm to 8.00pm. Registration is essential by email to dinosaurstrail@basscoast.vic.gov.au
• Inverloch* (Rainbow Park car park): Saturday 21 August – 9.00am to 11.00am
• Kilcunda* (foreshore car park): Saturday, 21 August – 12.00pm to 2.00pm
• Wonthaggi* (76 McBride Avenue): Sunday, 22 August – 9.00am to 11.00am
• San Remo* (Lions Park, Back Beach Road): Sunday, 22 August – 12.00pm to 2.00pm

*These sessions are subject to change, depending on COVID-19 restrictions in place at the scheduled times.

For more information about this project, visit www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/dinotrail, phone 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211 or email dinosaurstrail@basscoast.vic.gov.au.