Preparing our coastline: adapting today to safeguard tomorrow

Published on 11 December 2024

Mornington Peninsula Shire is leading the way with coastal adaptation in Victoria, planning for the long-term future of our coast. Over the last year, we’ve developed Part A of the Our Coast Our Future Strategy with the help of coastal experts and community members’ input. The Strategy sets the direction for how we will manage coastal changes into the future.  

What are coastal hazards? 

Natural coastal processes have always shaped the Mornington Peninsula’s coastline. When these processes impact on infrastructure and the way we use the coast, we call them coastal hazards. Coastal hazards, which include shoreline erosion, flooding from sea inundation, storm tides, river flooding, landslips and sand drift, are projected to increase with rising sea levels and extreme weather events associated with climate change.  

Our Coast Our Future Strategy focuses on erosion (sand loss), inundation (flooding) and changes to groundwater. 

• Coastal erosion: winds, waves and coastal currents shift sand away from the shoreline 
• Storm-tide inundation: temporary flooding of low-lying coastal land from elevated sea levels, often due to storm events 
• Permanent inundation: long-term inundation due to sea level rise (such as regular flooding from tides) 
• Groundwater changes: groundwater rising due to climate change (including sea level rise). Shallow groundwater (<2m below the ground surface), is considered a hazard. 

Coastal Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Guidelines  

Under state planning regulations, the Shire must plan for a minimum sea level rise of 0.8 metres by 2100 to ensure resilient and sustainable development. 

We have developed a set of guidelines to support landowners and permit applicants developing land in areas vulnerable to coastal hazards. Adopted by Council on 14 August 2024, the Coastal Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Guidelines aim to help applicants understand and mitigate erosion, inundation and storm surge risks to proposed developments. 

Based on publicly available State Government sea level rise hazard data (Port Phillip Bay Coastal Hazard Assessment and Western Port Local Coastal Hazard Assessment), a coastal hazard vulnerability and risk assessment may be required for development proposals near the coastline when applying for a planning permit.  

This new process will ensure that potential developments are compatible with the environmental conditions and align with long-term climate adaptation strategies. 

We are committed to preserving our unique coastal landscape and safeguarding our communities. By understanding and planning for coastal hazards, we can balance responsible development with environmental stewardship, ensuring that the Peninsula remains a safe and beautiful place to live for future generations. 

The Shire received $350,000 from the State Government for the Our Coast Our Future, while Council committed another $200,000. We received a further $25,000 from the State Government’s Coastal Planning Grants Program to develop the Coastal Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Guidelines.  

We are grateful for the State Government’s support and will continue to advocate for the State Government to introduce appropriate planning controls along our coastlines to ensure coastal hazards are consistently and transparently assessed during planning permit processes. We believe that sea level rise hazards should be addressed in planning schemes by the State Government in much the same way as other key environmental hazards – namely bushfire – whereby the State Government produces the scientific data, fast-tracks implementation of appropriately tailored planning controls and continues to update the application of controls as hazards change, based on the best available scientific data. 

Learn more

Our Coast Our Future Strategy: mornpen.vic.gov.au/ourcoast 

Coastal Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Guidelines: mornpen.vic.gov.au/coastalriskguidelines 

Port Phillip Bay Coastal Hazard Assessment: marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/coastal-programs/port-phillip-bay-coastal-hazard-assessment 

Western Port Local Coastal Hazard Assessment: seccca.org.au/past-projects

Quote attributable to Mayor Councillor Anthony Marsh: 

“This project is the first of its kind in Victoria. Our Coast Our Future gives us a better understanding of the region’s coastal hazards and possible implications for our local communities, now and into the future. Throughout 2025, we’ll be progressing in coastal adaptation planning, and we’ll invite the community to provide your input to help determine the best adaptation actions. 

“The Shire will continue to carry out our regular maintenance schedule and renewal program for the 64 kilometres of coastline that the Shire manages, including beaches, foreshores and coastal assets and infrastructure.  

“We need the State Government to lead coastal hazard planning, and we’ll continue to advocate for more to be done to protect our coastline – most of which is on Crown land (owned by the State).”