Coastal hazards

Coastal hazard risks arise when marine and coastal processes have the potential to negatively affect environmental, social, cultural or economic values.

Climate change is projected to increase certain types of hazard risks to the marine and coastal environment. Our report examines these risks and how we can improve resilience in the face of change.

Considering climate change risks in land use planning

Coordinated planning that considers climate risks can mitigate current and future impacts on communities. This includes land-use planning that considers the effects of sea-level rise, including more frequent inundation and erosion.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) analysed how Victorian councils were considering climate change in land-use planning. A strong pattern was seen when comparing inland and coastal councils. Coastal councils were three times more likely to have an intermediate, high or advanced consideration. In 2018, 30 percent of coastal councils were assessed as having no or basic integration of climate change into land-use planning.

DELWP is leading the implementation of Victoria’s first Marine Spatial Planning Framework. Marine spatial planning helps marine industry, government, and the community better plan activities in the marine environment and supports sustainable growth of Victoria’s blue economy and climate change adaptation planning. The Marine and Coastal Policy 2020 includes a Marine Spatial Planning Framework, and is required under the Marine and Coastal Act 2018.

Catchment Management Authorities

Victoria is divided into ten catchment and land protection regions. Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) plan and coordinate land, water and biodiversity management in each of these regions. All ten CMAs across Victoria are implementing Climate Change Adaptation Plans or Strategies. These were developed using CSIRO's latest climate change projections and in conjunction with key Australian research organisations.

Coastal blue carbon ecosystems

Blue carbon is the carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems. including mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses. Caring for these ecosystems offers opportunities for carbon sequestration and the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. It can also enhance fisheries and increase resilience of coasts to rising sea levels and storm surges.  Research published in 2019 found that allowing coastal wetlands in Victoria to naturally retreat with sea-level rise could capture and store 1.6 million tonnes of carbon by 2050 with a value of $65 million.

More information

• View the full indicator assessment table
• Explore case studies
• Download the State of the Marine and Coastal Environment 2021 Report and view the interpretive website for the report.
• View our coastal hazards web article from the report's information series.