Coasts, Estuaries and the Sea

Coastal Modification

The coast is highly valued by Victorians for its unique and diverse attributes. Yet in many cases it is the use and enjoyment of these values which itself puts pressure on coastal environments.

Victoria’s coastal environment has been significantly modified since European settlement, with the rate of modification increasing over time as the State’s population has grown and more people want to use and access the coast. Various scales and types of industrial, commercial and residential developments have been constructed along the length of the coast. Infrastructure, such as roads, has been installed and water has been extracted from rivers to support the growing level of human activity.

As well as having implications for landscape and amenity, for which Victorians value the coast, the rate and extent of modification also has implications for Victoria’s unique coastal plants and animals.

This section explores the condition of coastal environments, including the state of coastal vegetation, the length of coastline that falls under different levels of protection and the condition of estuaries. It also looks at the changing pressures, such as population growth, development and tourism, to which the coastal environment is subject. Finally, it evaluates government programs developed to manage the pressure of population growth and development in coastal environments and presents recommendations to suggest ways that the condition of Victoria’s unique natural coastal environment may be enhanced for present and future generations.

Part 4.4.1 - Coastal Modification (PDF - 1.1 MB)