The State Government is helping coastal land managers and the community better understand, plan for, and manage the increasing impacts of climate change on our coastal environments.

The Port Phillip Bay Coastal Hazard Assessment will be shared with land managers – including local councils – to better inform the development of responses to manage the risks in coastal communities.

The hazard assessment looks at the likely extent of flooding, changes in groundwater, and the impact of erosion for Port Phillip Bay in the decades to come.

Extending from Point Lonsdale to Point Nepean, the Coastal Hazard Assessment looked at present day conditions, predicted future changes, such as rising sea levels and examined how these changes might affect areas around the Bay.

The modelling, analysis and hazard maps provide a regional perspective of coastal processes and areas potentially exposed to coastal hazards around the Bay.

The State Government has invested $1.8 million to support local governments and land managers to progress adaptation planning studies in the Port Phillip Bay area, with the release of the Coastal Hazard Assessment to support progression of these projects.

The technical reports were prepared by a range of external providers including Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO and have undergone a rigorous independent peer review.

Since 2014, the State Government has invested $140 million into marine and coastal projects including Victoria’s Resilient Coast grants which help councils and land managers adapt to the risk of coastal hazards such as erosion and inundation.

The Government has also introduced the Climate Change and Energy Legislation Amendment (Renewable Energy and Storage Targets) Bill 2023 into the Victorian Parliament – legislating Victoria’s target of 95 per cent renewable energy generation by 2035 and emission reductions targets that will get Victoria to net zero by 2045.

The Bill will also amend the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to embed climate change considerations at the top of the Victorian planning hierarchy, with a new, explicit climate change objective in the planning framework requiring authorities to consider climate change when preparing or amending planning schemes.

Steve Dimopoulos (pictured), Minister for Environment, said “Victoria’s precious coastline is already being impacted by climate change. Our focus is on managing the risks, adapting to the changes, and supporting communities and industries to be resilient.”

“The Port Phillip Bay Coastal Hazard Assessment will be used to help local authorities and Victorians make better informed decision around our changing coastal environment.”