Posted July 23, 2017 08:19:49

Photo: When complete, the Wildlife Wanders eco-tourism attraction will be one of the region's largest employers. (ABC News: Cameron Best)

Parts of the Great Ocean Road have again been partially blocked, with more landslips around the fire-affected areas of Wye River.

Crews are working on a number of problem spots between Wye River and Kennett River with closures expected to be in place until mid-August.

It is a further blow for locals with landslips closing parts of the road for extended periods last year on the back of the 2015 Christmas Day bushfires which devastated the region.

The Federal and State governments have committed $100 million to upgrade the 243-kilometre tourist road, but there has long been relatively little money earmarked for basic infrastructure to cater for the millions of visitors.

Photo: Traffic management is in place along between Wye River and Kennett River due to landslips. (ABC News: Cameron Best)

Hotspots along the route, including the Twelve Apostles and koala viewing near Cape Otway, are dramatically under-serviced, meaning tourists often pass through without spending any money.

"Issues like toilet facilities, like better carparking, picnic tables, they're all really important in terms of enhancing the tourism experience," local Federal MP Sarah Henderson said.

Four new infrastructure projects from Geelong to Cape Otway will share in $1.62 million in funding, including a wildlife walking tour.

The Wildlife Wanders project by the Cape Otway Conservation Ecology Centre will feature buildings designed by The Hobbit art director Brian Massey.

"It will be a fabulous experience walking through a protected habitat area with a qualified conservationist guide to see the wildlife of the Otways," the centre's chief executive Lizzie Corke said.

"Very clever use of technology and landscaping will create an experience which is incredibly memorable and very meaningful.

Photo: More landslips on the Great Ocean Road are causing difficulties for locals and tourists. (ABC News: Cameron Best)

"It's a vision of how the Otways used to be, and how it could be again."

Federal Tourism Minister Steven Ciobo said the infrastructure spend would help the region to capitalise on a tourism boom.

"We're seeing a really strong increase in tourism numbers both domestic and internationally, coming into Victoria and more broadly across Australia," he said.

"Record numbers of tourists staying for a record length of time and spending a record amount of money.

"[We need to] make sure that people have the opportunity to not only do the Great Ocean Road drive, but also to stop and spend money in the local community which we know helps to power the local economy."

Topics: community-and-society, urban-development-and-planning, tourism, wye-river-3221, vic, kennett-river-3221