Our Coast Our Future

Consultation has concluded

Stage 2 Values Consultation has concluded. See what we heard in the Engagement Summary.

Through the Shire’s Our Coast Our Future, we’re developing a long-term plan to manage coastal hazard impacts across our region.

Mornington Peninsula’s identity is strongly linked to the natural environment, especially its coastal and marine areas. Stretching almost 200 km, the diverse and unique coastlines of the Mornington Peninsula are dynamic and always changing. Distinct landforms and ecosystems define the different coastal regions of the Peninsula. From sandy beaches and dune systems, rocky shores and cliffs, wetlands and waterways through to mangroves, saltmarshes and mudflats.

Coastal erosion and storm tide inundation (flooding) are natural processes that shape the coast over time. We refer to these processes as coastal hazards when they impact places we value, and the ways we use and enjoy the coast. With a changing climate and rising sea levels, we’re expecting more impacts from coastal hazards along our coasts. We need to plan for the impacts they will have on what we value.

The Shire’s Our Coast Our Future will develop important long-term planning to manage the coastal areas of the Shire and drive efficient and sustainable outcomes in the face of climate change. This project will combine latest science, technical assessments and community aspirations to shape a strategic approach.

The Shire was awarded funding through the state government’s Victoria’s Resilient Coast grants program. This initiative aims to assist coastal land managers to deliver strategic coastal hazard risk management and adaptation.


The study area

Our Coast Our Future will include all our coastal communities along the Peninsula. We have grouped these communities into five areas. This allows us to explore community values, coastal processes and coastal hazards at a more localised scale.

Click on a region below to look a further detail related to your local area or favourite beach.

A strategic approach to adaptation

The outcomes of this work allow us to better understand the region’s coastal hazards and possible implications for our local communities, now and into the future. With improved understanding of hazards and potential at-risk areas along our coastline, we can work to identify different ways to manage these locations through adaptation.

Our Coast Our Future will include the development of a Coastal Strategy to guide our adaptation planning and its implementation.

Understanding coastal hazards

The coastal hazards we’re assessing will include erosion (sand loss) and inundation (flooding).

Coastal inundation

Coastal flooding of low-lying land by seawater.

Some lower lying coastal land is prone to coastal flooding. With sea level rise, areas flooded by the sea during storms may become bigger. We have looked at increasing tidal areas due to rising sea levels, and where we may experience flooding when we have storms.

  • Storm tide inundation: temporary event-based inundation
  • Permanent inundation: regular or persistent inundation by the regular tidal cycle

Coastal erosion

Coastal erosion is the process of winds, waves and coastal currents shifting sediment (e.g. sand, silt, or soil) away from a localised area of the shoreline.

Areas around Port Phillip Bay may be prone to coastal erosion. With sea levels rising, some of our shorelines are moving. Higher water levels, and bigger storms also mean waves can reach further onshore. This will likely cause more erosion.

We have looked at:

  • Short-term erosion: Event-based erosion of sediment (storm bite) and recovery
  • Long-term erosion (recession): Progressive retreat of shoreline position over time

We will use a range of existing coastal models, data sets and studies to estimate coastal hazards for the region. This will help us identify areas along the Peninsula potentially impacted by different coastal hazard types for a range of current and future conditions (including sea level rise). We can then look at the values, uses and infrastructure within these hazard areas and consider the implications. This knowledge will help to inform the development of possible management responses.

Stage 2 Values Consultation has concluded. See what we heard in the Engagement Summary.

Through the Shire’s Our Coast Our Future, we’re developing a long-term plan to manage coastal hazard impacts across our region.

Mornington Peninsula’s identity is strongly linked to the natural environment, especially its coastal and marine areas. Stretching almost 200 km, the diverse and unique coastlines of the Mornington Peninsula are dynamic and always changing. Distinct landforms and ecosystems define the different coastal regions of the Peninsula. From sandy beaches and dune systems, rocky shores and cliffs, wetlands and waterways through to mangroves, saltmarshes and mudflats.

Coastal erosion and storm tide inundation (flooding) are natural processes that shape the coast over time. We refer to these processes as coastal hazards when they impact places we value, and the ways we use and enjoy the coast. With a changing climate and rising sea levels, we’re expecting more impacts from coastal hazards along our coasts. We need to plan for the impacts they will have on what we value.

The Shire’s Our Coast Our Future will develop important long-term planning to manage the coastal areas of the Shire and drive efficient and sustainable outcomes in the face of climate change. This project will combine latest science, technical assessments and community aspirations to shape a strategic approach.

The Shire was awarded funding through the state government’s Victoria’s Resilient Coast grants program. This initiative aims to assist coastal land managers to deliver strategic coastal hazard risk management and adaptation.


The study area

Our Coast Our Future will include all our coastal communities along the Peninsula. We have grouped these communities into five areas. This allows us to explore community values, coastal processes and coastal hazards at a more localised scale.

Click on a region below to look a further detail related to your local area or favourite beach.

A strategic approach to adaptation

The outcomes of this work allow us to better understand the region’s coastal hazards and possible implications for our local communities, now and into the future. With improved understanding of hazards and potential at-risk areas along our coastline, we can work to identify different ways to manage these locations through adaptation.

Our Coast Our Future will include the development of a Coastal Strategy to guide our adaptation planning and its implementation.

Understanding coastal hazards

The coastal hazards we’re assessing will include erosion (sand loss) and inundation (flooding).

Coastal inundation

Coastal flooding of low-lying land by seawater.

Some lower lying coastal land is prone to coastal flooding. With sea level rise, areas flooded by the sea during storms may become bigger. We have looked at increasing tidal areas due to rising sea levels, and where we may experience flooding when we have storms.

  • Storm tide inundation: temporary event-based inundation
  • Permanent inundation: regular or persistent inundation by the regular tidal cycle

Coastal erosion

Coastal erosion is the process of winds, waves and coastal currents shifting sediment (e.g. sand, silt, or soil) away from a localised area of the shoreline.

Areas around Port Phillip Bay may be prone to coastal erosion. With sea levels rising, some of our shorelines are moving. Higher water levels, and bigger storms also mean waves can reach further onshore. This will likely cause more erosion.

We have looked at:

  • Short-term erosion: Event-based erosion of sediment (storm bite) and recovery
  • Long-term erosion (recession): Progressive retreat of shoreline position over time

We will use a range of existing coastal models, data sets and studies to estimate coastal hazards for the region. This will help us identify areas along the Peninsula potentially impacted by different coastal hazard types for a range of current and future conditions (including sea level rise). We can then look at the values, uses and infrastructure within these hazard areas and consider the implications. This knowledge will help to inform the development of possible management responses.