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Coastal Hazard Exposure Report

Published on 18 February 2026

Background

The coast is dynamic and always changing, shaped by natural coastal processes such as erosion and inundation, and at times, natural processes may impact on coastal values and uses. When this occurs, we refer to the processes as ‘coastal hazards’.
Coastal hazard exposure is expected to increase with changes in wave action, storm activity and sea level rise associated with climate change.

Barwon Coast is releasing the Coastal Hazards Exposure Report for the land it manages. The report uses the best available science and local knowledge to refine our understanding of coastal hazard risks, informing safer, more resilient future planning, particularly our Foreshore Master Plan.

About the Barwon Coast Coastal Hazard Exposure Report

The Foreshore Master Plan community engagement found Foreshore that ecological fragility, dune care, and habitat restoration are the strongest community priorities (see the Community Engagement Report here).

Coastal hazards are one of many natural hazards that can occur in areas we enjoy living in and visiting (e.g. bushfire, river flooding, air quality). Improved assessment and mapping of hazards enables us to create a plan to reduce the potential risks and adapt.

We have a responsibility to consider their risk exposure, and act in accordance with the Marine and Coastal Policy 2020.

We are taking a partnership approach to managing coastal hazard risk and proactively adapt, both now and in the long-term. Our approach is following the direction of the Marine and Coastal Policy 2020 and Victoria’s Resilient Coast – Adapting for 2100+ framework and guidelines.

This project increases our understanding of coastal hazard exposure for the coastline we manage, starting with helping shape the actions in the Foreshore Master Plan.

What does the report cover?

The coastal hazards being assessed in the Coastal Hazard Exposure Report are coastal erosion and coastal inundation on Barwon Coast-managed land.

  • Erosion occurs during storms today, and future erosion risk reflects ongoing shoreline change, sea level rise, and storm impacts combined.
  • Inundation is the flooding of areas above the high tide mark caused by storm tides/storm surge, waves and sea level rise.

This report, along with community input and other plans, audits, and strategies, will help inform and shape the actions and directions included in the Foreshore Master Plan, as well as the Coastal Marine Management Plan (CMMP) and other future planning undertaken by Barwon Coast.

We invite the community and visitors to view the Barwon Coast Foreshore Coastal Hazard Exposure report to understand potential future impacts of erosion and inundation along the foreshore.

Read the Coastal Hazard Exposure Report

Online information session

On Thursday 5 March we held an Online Information Session about the Coastal Hazards Exposure Report.

The expert team who worked with Barwon Coast to create the Coastal Hazards Exposure Report, Water Technology, provided an overview of the report and address key frequently asked questions.

About the Victoria’s Resilient Coast – Adapting for 2100+ framework

The Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has led the development of ‘Victoria’s Resilient Coast – Adapting for 2100+’ – a strategic approach for coastal hazard risk management and adaptation.

‘Victoria’s Resilient Coast – Adapting for 2100+’ provides a framework, guidelines, and support for Local Government, land managers and their communities to:

  • Enable place-based, best practice and long-term coastal hazard risk management and adaptation.
  • Build on the directions in the Marine and Coastal Policy 2020.

In building on the Policy directions, Victoria’s Resilient Coast provides a staged approach to the technical, strategic and engagement elements of risk management and adaptation.

Find out more here

Next steps

This report is already shaping the actions in the draft Foreshore Master Plan, which will guide the protection, enhancement, and connection of key areas over a 15-year period.

The Foreshore Master Plan will be shared with the community for feedback in early 2026, and we encourage all community members to review the Foreshore Master Plan and share their thoughts.  The final Master Plan is expected to be released mid-2026.

To stay up to date on opportunities to have your say on the Draft Foreshore Master Plan, please click the link below.

Keep me up to date with the Foreshore Master Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Coastal Hazards Exposure Report?

The Coastal Hazards Exposure Report uses the best available science and local knowledge to refine our understanding of coastal hazard risks, informing safer, more resilient future planning.

Is this new information?

The majority of the Coastal hazard information included in the Report is currently publicly available at the regional, state and national scale to assist communities and land managers with proactive planning.

This includes inundation and sea level rise scenarios through the City of Greater Geelong’s ‘Our Coast’ study, Coastal Risk Australia, and Victorian assessments through CoastKit (marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au).

The technical assessments completed for this project will assist to refine our understanding of coastal hazard exposure for our local area and inform the Foreshore Master Plan.

Does this report cover all coastal areas?

No, this report only covers coastal foreshore areas managed by Barwon Coast, extending from Breamlea/Bancoora in the west, to the Collendina Bonnyvale Road beach access to the east.

We work with the following land managers and authorities – if the area you’d like to know more about is managed by another organisation, please contact them for further information:

How will this project help manage the coast?

This project helps manage the coast by providing a clear understanding of areas exposed to erosion and inundation, which informs long-term planning and decision-making. The Coastal Hazard Exposure report identifies risks to foreshore land and infrastructure, helping Barwon Coast and partners plan for adaptation, maintain key assets, and engage the community about future coastal management.

What are coastal hazards?

Natural coastal processes like wind, waves, tides and currents work to shift sediment and shape the coastline. When these processes negatively impact on use of the coast, they become coastal hazards. These impacts could be environmental, social, cultural or economic impacts. Coastal hazards include coastal erosion and inundation.

How does the Bancoora Coastal Adaptation Plan fit in with this report?

Coastal hazards for the coastal foreshore areas managed by Barwon Coast at Breamlea/Bancoora Beach (between Black Rock and Thompson Creek) presented in this study were developed as part of the Bancoora Coastal Adaptation Plan (‘BCAP’) project. The BCAP project covers Stages 1-5 of Victoria Resilient Coast: Adapting for 2100+ which is being delivered separately by Alluvium Consulting.

The results from Stage 3 Coastal Hazard Exposure of the BCAP project have been integrated into the mapping of this study to provide a consistent set of hazard layers across the management area.

The BCAP project then goes further and builds on this coastal hazard information to assess risk (Stage 4) and develop adaptation pathways (Stage 5).

Why has this report been created?

Under the Marine and Coastal Policy 2020, Committees of Management are required to manage the coast to protect and enhance the coastal values for future generations. This includes considering appropriate coastal use and adaptation in response to coastal hazards. To successfully implement coastal planning, Barwon Coast requires mapping of existing and future coastal hazards as this information is vital for adaptation planning.

Water Technology was commissioned to provide Barwon Coast with existing and future coastal hazard mapping from Breamlea to Collendina to help inform Barwon Coast’s long-term strategic goals.