Overview
Victoria’s coast contributes to the state through port and trade activity, and tourism and related services. There are around 70 million recreational visits across some 2000km of coastline each year.
A number of government and non-government stakeholders manage coastal assets, pressures and issues. The planning system helps guide sustainable development within coastal settlements and manage development within non-urban areas.
The Victorian government supports the development of detailed coastal hazard mapping and risk assessments in preparation for storm surges and sea level rise. The department supports coastal adaptation planning by working with stakeholders to implement the best available coastal hazard information, including through planning schemes and related coastal management processes.
Coastal Planning Grants Program - Expressions of Interest
Expressions of Interest are now open for the Coastal Planning Grants Program. The Program provides support to Victoria's coastal councils to implement state-funded local coastal hazard assessments and risk analysis in planning schemes. The Program's funding criteria include the use of funds for the preparation and exhibition of planning scheme amendments that propose to implement the findings of such work.
Victorian Coastal Strategy
The Victorian Coastal Strategy 2014 is established under the Coastal Management Act 1995 and is the government’s policy for Victoria’s coastal, estuarine and marine environments. It provides a long-term vision for the planning, management and sustainable use of our coast, and the policies and actions Victorians will need to implement over the next five years to help achieve that vision.
The Strategy is referenced in the State Planning Policy Framework of all Victorian planning schemes and informs the development and implementation of other locally and regionally specific strategies and plans, including:
Planning guidance
Ministerial Direction No. 13 and Planning Practice Note 53 help with planning and guide responsible authorities:
- Direction No. 13: Managing coastal hazards and the coastal impacts of climate change (PDF, 17.1 KB) or
- Planning Practice Note 53: Managing coastal hazards and the coastal impacts of climate change (PDF, 280.4 KB) or (DOC, 135.5 KB)
For further information on how Catchment Management Authorities and Melbourne Water provide advice to responsible authorities on development proposals refer to:
- Planning for Sea Level Rise - Guidelines - Port Phillip and Westernport Region, Melbourne Water, February 2017 (PDF, 3.5 MB)
- Guidelines for Coastal Catchment Management Authorities: Assessing Development in relation to Sea Level Rise, June 2012 (PDF, 1.2 MB)
Read the fact sheet on managing coastal hazards and the coastal impacts of climate change:
Other coastal planning initiatives
Information about other coastal planning strategies and initiatives:
- Coasts and Marine
Led by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Coasts and Marine Management, Strategies, Programs and Grants aim to reduce the impact of coastal hazards and better manage the Government's duty of care and liability for coastal Crown land.
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Page last updated: 21/05/19