Climate change predictions suggest that more frequent storms, high tides and rising sea levels will have a greater impact on our coast. These events will likely happen more often, causing flooding in low-lying areas and more beach erosion. Changes in wind patterns could also affect wave energy, altering the shape of sandy beaches along the Bellarine Peninsula.

To address this, we need to adapt and prepare for a changing climate. We must plan and implement sustainable changes to the coast to make it more resilient to future impacts, ensuring it remains a valuable space for the Victorian community. Without action, the cultural, environmental, social and economic values could be severely affected.

As part of this effort, we will develop a Coastal Adaptation Plan to help us adapt and prepare for the future.

Coastal adaptation is the process of making changes to better cope with coastal hazards like erosion, flooding, and sea-level rise. This can include actions such as relocating buildings away from vulnerable areas, enhancing natural features like dunes and wetlands to protect the coast, or constructing barriers to reduce the impact of these hazards.

Adaptation helps communities manage and reduce the risks associated with coastal hazards by taking proactive steps to prevent damage and ensure the safety and well-being of people and the environment.

In considering options to mitigate coastal hazard risk, the Victorian Marine and Coastal Policy (2020) provides direction to respect natural coastal processes, apply an adaptation pathways approach, and consider options in the following order:

• non-intervention
• avoid
• nature-based methods
• accommodate
• retreat
• protect

A variety of essential monitoring activities are currently underway along our foreshore, focussing on tracking sand movement, beach and seabed elevations, wave conditions, and water levels.

The Victorian Coastal Monitoring Program (VCMP), led by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), oversees monitoring at several key sites along the our coastline. This program collects valuable data to enhance understanding of coastline changes, support decision-making at local and regional levels, and provide insights to ensure future coastal resilience.

For more than six years, Bellarine Bayside has facilitated BeachWatch, a citizen science initiative focused on tracking sand movement and beach elevations to monitor long-term changes. Local volunteers visit vulnerable sites regularly to gather data.

In addition, staff conduct regular surveys, particularly following storm events, to assess any damage and take prompt action where necessary.

The data gathered from these monitoring activities is crucial for identifying changes and gaining a deeper understanding of how the beach and coastal areas respond to weather patterns and storm events, ultimately guiding our decision-making process. We use it to make informed decisions when addressing identified short and long-term changes, and also to develop actions that address erosion and damage to community values, such as popular beaches and vegetated areas.

Coastal Adaptation Plans in Victoria are guided by several key pieces of legislation and policy, ensuring a coordinated approach to coastal adaptation planning.

The key documents are:

• The Marine and Coastal Act 2018 provides the legal framework for managing coastal hazard risks and adaptation.
• The Marine and Coastal Policy 2020 provides strategies and priorities to make sure Coastal Adaptation Plans match state-wide goals.
• Victoria’s Resilient Coast – Adapting for 2100+ offers guidelines to help coastal land managers and communities create effective adaptation strategies.