A row of modern two-storey houses overlooking a lagoon at Cheetham wetlands. There is a duck sitting on the water and the sky is blue.

Looking across Port Phillip Bay from the Western Treatment Plant. There is green scrub on the foreshore and the sky is cloudy.

Project context

The Port Phillip Bay western shoreline is a unique part of the bay landscape with diverse marine and coastal values. These include Traditional Owner values and connection to country, internationally significant ecosystems such as Ramsar listed wetlands, parks and reserves, and a marine sanctuary.

The area is home to key facilities such as the Werribee agriculture precinct, Western Treatment Plant, oil refineries, Avalon Airport, and strategic national defence sites. It is also one of the fastest growing populations in Victoria.

Coastal hazards like erosion and flooding often impact the western shoreline. In the future, the region faces some of the highest risk for flooding of residential and industrial land across Victoria’s coast.

The Regional and Strategic Partnership (RASP)

The Port Phillip Bay Western Shoreline RASP has been established to respond to current and future coastal hazard impacts (including erosion, flooding and other hazards) across the region. The 9 RASP partners are:

  • Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
  • Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
  • City of Greater Geelong
  • Hobsons Bay City Council
  • Wyndham City Council
  • Melbourne Water
  • Parks Victoria
  • Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
  • Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

Adapt West – Shaping our Shores is the project led by the RASP, that will deliver a Coastal Hazard Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CHARP) for the region.

The project extent includes all marine and coastal areas that may be impacted by coastal hazards from now to 2100+, from Greenwich Reserve in Williamstown to Limeburners Bay/Hovells Creek Estuary north of Geelong.

Adapt West - Shaping our Shores project extent

A map showing the Adapt West - Shaping our Shores project extent

The Coastal Hazard Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CHARP)

The Adapt West CHARP will ensure a shared understanding of the impacts of climate change on marine and coastal values, and provide long-term strategic guidance on management, decision making and investment.

The plan will be refined by 2026 and implemented by the RASP partners in following years.

The plan will identify shared priority actions, funding, roles and responsibilities, change management, triggers for review and a monitoring plan.

The CHARP development will:

Project stages

Stage 1 (2022–23)

Refinement of the RASP purpose and scope of the CHARP.

Stages 2–3 (2024 onwards)

Technical, engagement and strategic studies with oversight from the RASP partners to progress the adaptation planning process.

Communication and engagement is a core part of the adaptation planning process. During 2024 and 2025, RASP partners and the broader community will explore topics to inform coastal hazard adaptation for the area, including:

  • community values, usage and enjoyment of the western shoreline
  • 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.

Head to Engage Victoria for project updates, factsheets and how to get involved. https://engage.vic.gov.au/adapt-west

Page last updated: 09/07/24