31 July 2020
These fact sheets and the research which underpins them was undertaken by ESCC Hub researchers from Project 5.9: Natural habitats for coastal protection and carbon sequestration – Phase 2 of the National Centre for Coasts and Climate
Victoria has more than 2,500 km of coastline. In addition to its important and varied natural values, the coast provides critical social, cultural and economic benefits to communities.
Coastal erosion already affects these values in many parts of Victoria. Climate change is likely to increase the frequency, intensity and extent of existing coastal hazards, further increasing the impact of erosion on the Victorian coast. Understanding trends and changes in erosion rates is therefore important for informing coastal management and planning activities.
The Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub is investigating shoreline change in Victoria through the National Centre for Coasts and Climate. Our researchers worked with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and Deakin University through the Victorian Coastal Monitoring Program to investigate changes in the frequency and intensity of historic erosion, and to shed light on the drivers of shoreline change, now and into the future.
Historic shoreline change for nine coastal areas in Victoria was investigated, with results summarised in a series of location-based fact sheets. Each fact sheet outlines the change in shoreline observed over the past 4-5 decades and looks at future implications for the location in terms of vulnerability to coastal erosion and possible impacts to existing infrastructure and assets.
Fact sheets are available for the following Victorian coastal locations:
- Anglesea, Great Ocean Road
- Apollo Bay, Great Ocean Road
- Cowes, South Gippsland
- Inverloch, South Gippsland
- Mounts Bay, Great Ocean Road
- Ocean Grove, Barwon Coast
- Port Fairy
- Seaspray, East Gippsland
- Lady Bay, Warrnambool
Using climate change and coastal science to inform coastal management
Climate change and coastal science information is critical to help deal with the impacts of climate change on our coastal environments.
Research by the National Centre for Coasts and Climate, though the Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub, is improving knowledge and developing methodologies and approaches to better understand current and future coastal hazards and to trial nature-based coastal projection solutions to inform on-ground coastal management actions.
More research on coastal erosion, as well as blue carbon ecosystems and eco-engineering solutions for coastal protection, is continuing under Project 5.9 Natural habitats for coastal protection and carbon sequestration – Phase 2 of the National Centre for Coasts and Climate.
For more information
Dr Teresa Konlechner, National Centre for Coasts and Climate, University of Melbourne