Tuesday, 25 July 2023

PROTECTING THE FUTURE OF OUR COASTLINES

The Andrews Labor Government is continuing to invest in the future of our state’s precious coast by funding critical work to manage the impacts of climate change.

Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant MP today announced a $1.7 million investment towards projects that support and care for Victoria’s marine and coastal environments.

The Victoria’s Resilient Coast grants, the Sea Country grants, and the implementation of Coastal and Marine Management Plans all present timely opportunities to address current and future coastal issues.

Through the Victoria’s Resilient Coast grants program, $1 million has been provided to fund a series of projects that plan for the impacts of climate change – building on from the $800,000 worth of grants that was awarded last year.

The program will support local councils and coastal land managers to progress strategic coastal hazard risk management and climate change adaptation.

The grants will help fund Surf Coast Shire Council generate flood modelling on the Painkalac Estuary Flood Risk Project, while Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority will be able to improve the health of estuarine seagrass meadows.

The Sea Country grants program will back six Traditional Owner organisations and an incorporated Aboriginal group along Victoria’s coast through $500,000 worth of funding.

The grants will support Traditional Owners in asserting their cultural values, rights, and obligations in the management of the marine and coastal environment.  

The $200,000 Coastal and Marine Management Plans grants program will help marine and coastal Crown land managers to prepare, review and implement coastal local-scale plans.

Successful recipients in the Bellarine include:

• Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management were successful in receiving a $50,000 grant for their Northern Bellarine Climate Change Coastal Adaptation Plan to assess the vulnerability of public assets to climate change and prepare a plan for how these should be best adapted to respond.

• Borough of Queenscliffe were successful in receiving a $40,000 grant for the Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale Cliff Stability and Beach Health Study where cliff stability and beach health will be investigated, categorised and risks mapped along the coastline to assist in understanding immediate hazards and future dangers.

Quotes attributable to Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant

“Victoria’s precious coastline is already being impacted by climate change and these grants will help us prepare for future challenges.”

Quotes attributable to Cr Isabelle Thomas, Borough of Queenscliffe Mayor

‘Victoria’s Resilient Coast Grant funding is welcomed by Council. The $40000 will enable Council to gain a deeper understanding of the current coastal risk hazards, and the interventions available to mitigate or reduce the impacts to our coastline and community.’