Geelong Queenscliffe Coastal Adaptation Program

The Geelong Queenscliffe Coastal Adaptation Program is a collaboration between multiple stakeholder agencies. These include two Councils - Geelong and Queenscliffe, the Victorian State Government, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and two foreshore committees of management - Bellarine Bayside and Barwon Coast. Eleven coastal communities and the general public will be invited to assist in the risk assessment as well as the development of adaptation responses.

The purpose of the program is to plan for the future management of the coast under current climate and a number of future climate change scenarios. It also aims to address increasing pressure on the coast in a region that boasts one of the State’s fastest growing population.

The program has three phases, Phase 1 Coastal Hazard Assessment, Phase 2 Risk Assessment and Phase 3 Development of Adaptation Responses. The delivery of the program also includes a comprehensive stakeholder and community communications plan that aims to engage with all interested parties, build their capacity to understand the potential effects of coastal climate change and assist in the development of adaptation responses.

The Program will articulate this in a manner using current national and international methods as well as applying innovative techniques in addressing the impact of climate change along a 200km diverse coastline. The program will be one of the most detailed and comprehensive studies of its kind ever delivered in Australia. The first two phases of the program are complete with work progressing well on the third phase.