The coastline around Inverloch, Venus Bay and Anderson Inlet is a beautiful and dynamic part of the landscape. Natural processes such as winds, waves, tides, currents and catchment flows move sand and sediments, reshaping the coastline. These processes sometimes impact places we value, and the way we use the coast.

The coastline at and around Inverloch has experienced significant erosion in recent years. Public assets, values and infrastructure are now at risk of damage and loss.

To proactively plan for managing future changes to the coastline, we’re delivering the Cape to Cape Resilience Project. This project combines the latest science, technical assessments and community aspirations to develop a long-term plan to manage important places, assets and other values in the future. The Cape to Cape Resilience Project study area is between Cape Paterson and Cape Liptrap.

This project is being undertaken in two key stages, you can find out more about each Stage below.

Map of the Cape to Cape Resilience Project study area

Project updates and factsheets

Project updates

Factsheets

The Inverloch Regional and Strategic Partnership

Many agencies are responsible for managing coastal and marine areas. A Regional and Strategic Partnership (RaSP) brings these agencies together to respond to key issues. The Inverloch RaSP is the first RaSP established under the Marine and Coastal Act 2018. It has ten partners – Traditional Owners, the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, and nine agencies responsible for managing the Inverloch region's coastal land, assets and infrastructure.

The Inverloch RaSP will work with the community to address ongoing and future coastal erosion and inundation impacts. This includes delivering the Cape to Cape Resilience Project.

Stage 1

From 2021 to 2022, we delivered Stage 1 of the Cape to Cape Resilience Project. This extensive scope of work produced various technical, strategic and engagement assessments. The outcomes of this work have allowed us to better understand the region’s coastal hazards and possible implications for our local communities, now and into the future. This work included:

  • New research through a Coastal Hazard Assessment (CHA)
  • Coastal hazard modelling, maps and spatial data layers
  • Extensive community engagement and Community and Cultural Values studies
  • A coastal risk and vulnerability assessment
  • Economic base case for coastal hazards

More information about these outcomes can be found below.

Stage 2

We are now working through the final components of Stage 2, the development of the Cape to Cape Resilience Plan.

Formed over two years, agencies, stakeholders and communities collaborated to create the plan, which provides a roadmap to build resilience across communities and adapt to coastal hazards both now and into the future.

The draft Cape to Cape Resilience Plan includes:

  • An overview of Statewide marine and coastal policy, adaptation planning guidance, and the journey to develop the Resilience Plan
  • An understanding of the Cape to Cape coastal landscape, communities, and values
  • Coastal hazard modelling and mapping results from the Coastal Hazard Assessment
  • Exposure and risk assessment results, including vulnerability and economic assessments
  • A strategic approach to adaptation, including adaptation pathways and foundational, regional and location-specific actions

The draft Resilience Plan is available for public comment through a formal 28-day public consultation period beginning Friday 23 August 2024. More information below.

Draft Cape to Cape Resilience Plan 28-day consultation period

We are seeking community feedback on the draft Resilience Plan through a 28-day public consultation period beginning Friday 23 August 2024. Feedback will be collected via an online survey or uploading a submission to our Engage Victoria page.

Submissions on the draft Cape to Cape Resilience Plan may be made to DEECA via Engage Victoria on or before Sunday 13 October 2024.

This feedback will assist us in refining the final Cape to Cape Resilience Plan.

Check out our short explainer video for some extra context when reading and understanding the plan.

Resilience Plan Frequently Asked Questions

Photo Montages

Static visualisations of engineering adaptation options, as identified within the Adaptation Action Technical Assessment of the Inverloch Region Coastal Hazard Assessment. The below photo montages are based on conceptual designs proposed within the report, presenting visual aesthetic impacts the adaptation options would have on the coastal environment. *Noting that detailed designs have not yet been developed.

Large scale beach nourishment Bunurong Road (JPG)/(PDF)

Rock seawall Bunurong Road (JPG)/(PDF)

Geotextile sandbag seawall Bunurong Road (JPG)/(PDF)

Large scale beach nourishment Inverloch Surf Beach - aerial view (JPG)/(PDF)

Large scale beach nourishment Inverloch Surf Beach - beach level/oblique view (JPG)/(PDF)

Rock groynes and nourishment Inverloch Surf Beach - aerial view (JPG)/(PDF)

Rock groynes and nourishment Inverloch Surf Beach - beach level/oblique view (JPG)/(PDF)

Geotextile sandbag groynes and nourishment Inverloch Surf Beach - aerial view (JPG)/(PDF)

Geotextile sandbag groynes and nourishment Inverloch Surf Beach - beach level/oblique view (JPG)/(PDF)

Long rock groyne Point Norman Inverloch Surf Beach - aerial view (JPG)/(PDF)

Long rock groyne Point Norman Inverloch Surf Beach - beach level/oblique view (JPG)/(PDF)

Nearshore rock breakwaters Inverloch Surf Beach (JPG)/(PDF)

Listening to the community

Speaking with our community is key to the Cape to Cape Resilience Project. Our stakeholder and community engagement is happening throughout the project and will be tailored to align with and inform key elements of the technical work.

As our project team continues with our adaptation and resilience planning, we will also continue talking to our key stakeholders and community.

Engagement to date

Our work to date has already explored a range of topics relating to coastal hazards and their management with our community:

  • community values, usage and enjoyment of the Cape to Cape region’s coastal areas
  • perceived threats to these values and uses
  • what the community hopes to see in the future
  • ideas, perspectives and preferences that may enable us to adapt and increase our resilience

How to participate

Hearing ideas and perspectives from the Cape to Cape communities remains an important part of this project and will help shape the region's adaptation pathways and actions.

Extensive and targeted community and stakeholder engagement was completed throughout Stage 2, to help inform our Resilience Plan. Visit our Engage Victoria page for the latest information on how you can participate.

Email capetocape.project@delwp.vic.gov.au to receive project updates.

how engagement informs planning

Project Frequently Asked Questions

Page last updated: 17/04/25