Located on Wadawurrung Country, the northern Bellarine coastal reserve holds important value to many. It contains sites of cultural significance, natural areas that sustain important coastal and marine vegetation and wildlife, and hosts vibrant events and activities that make up the social fabric for the community.
Coastal environments are dynamic and continually changing. The integrity and quality of the coastal and marine environment along the northern Bellarine Peninsula is under increasing pressure from growing populations, demand for access, and natural coastal processes exacerbated by more extreme weather events.
Contribute your values, concerns and ideas through our online feedback tools from 23 November 2024 - 17 January 2025.
Planning for the futureTo guide the future directions and management of the coastal Crown land, we are developing four key documents that will form a holistic and comprehensive approach to managing the northern Bellarine coast, they are:
While each plan is independent and serves a specific purpose with standalone objectives and scope, they will work together to guide the sustainable management, long-term protection and enjoyment of our coast for the Victorian community.
Feedback sought from the community for these four plans will also help inform other relevant plans that we undertake over the next 12 months.
We're working to develop our next Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP) to guide the future management of coastal reserves on the northern Bellarine Peninsula.
The CMMP will set a vision, goals and strategic actions to guide the management of the coastal Crown land reserves on the northern Bellarine Peninsula.
The Coastal Adaptation Plan (CAP) will enable place-based, best practice and long-term coastal hazard risk management and adaptation responses to be identified and implemented to coastal public land on the northern Bellarine Peninsula.
We need to begin planning for the future to ensure we continue to adapt to coastal hazards and consider sustainable options for both short and long-term predicted future impacts.
Point Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve is one of the largest areas of native bushland and ephemeral wetlands on the Bellarine Peninsula.
The comprehensive management plan will establish the vision, direction and objectives for the flora and fauna reserve, providing strategic guidance for decision-making, investment and management approaches over the next 10-20 years.
The Beach Access Study will analyse current beach access along the 17km stretch of the coast to understand how current access paths, formal and informal, are used.
It will develop a framework for best practice future management and identify interventions that support community needs and provide safe and inclusive access while protecting cultural and environmental values.
Timeline item 1 - incomplete
Community Feedback
23 November 2024 – 17 January 2025
Complete one or all three of our feedback options to help shape the four plans.
Timeline item 2 - incomplete
Engagement Reporting
Following the first phase of community feedback, we will provide a Community Engagement Summary Report for each project, detailing what we heard and how it has been considered.
Individually, each plan will be progressed based on best practice coastal management in line with current legislation and policy. Each plan will consider Traditional Owner aspirations, community feedback, and technical and scientific knowledge. This will look different for each plan and we will provide information on the individual project pages about future community engagement opportunities.
