Silverleaves protection works
In March 2025, the Victorian Government announced more than $15 million in funding to address coastal erosion, safety risks and access issues along Victoria’s coast. As part of this funding, DEECA and Bass Coast Shire Council have delivered immediate protection works at Silverleaves Beach on Phillip Island.
The works were delivered ahead of the expected king tides at Easter and involved placement of 1,280 tonnes of rock within 620 bags, stretching 165 metres along the coastline. Costing $565,000, the rock bag revetment is a short-term measure designed to protect the vulnerable Crown land foreshore at Silverleaves for the next 5 to 10 years.
Long-term planning for Silverleaves continues via an Adaptation Pathway Plan. The plan provides a pathway for the future management of the area in line with the Marine and Coastal Policy 2020, and Victoria’s Resilient Coast – Adapting for 2100+ Guidelines.
Community consultation on the plan closed on 30 May 2025, and it will be released soon. For more information, visit engage.vic.gov.au/silverleaves-coastal-adaptation-pathways.
The rock bag revetment at Silverleaves.
Future rehabilitation works at Point Henry
DEECA has recently inspected a future rehabilitation site on wetlands and an old tip on the coastal Crown land at Point Henry near Geelong.
After Alcoa closed its aluminium operations in 2014, DEECA has been working with stakeholders to unlock future community use of coastal Crown land to provide opportunities for people to connect with the environment.
Due to its industrial past, removing contaminants is key to opening these areas back up to the community. These contaminants may include chemical residues (such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and cyanide), spent pot-liner, and waste products including fluoride, aluminium and industrial waste.
DEECA and Alcoa will continue to work together on this complex long-term project. A five-year lease is in place with Alcoa to allow for planning and delivery, with works expected to commence in 2026.
Representatives from DEECA, Alcoa and consultants at Point Henry.
A view of the wetland areas and the Point Henry pier, and across Corio Bay toward the You Yangs.
Barwon River bird observation point: created by the public for the public
A simple conversation between a local community member and a coastal land manager has led to a valuable addition to the Barwon Estuary trail in Ocean Grove.
Bellarine resident Jennifer Carr, a long-time environmentalist and bird observer, approached Barwon Coast Committee of Management with an idea: to create a space where people walking the trail could pause and observe the birds, and learn and reflect on the estuary’s natural values.
Barwon Coast secured funding through a Victorian Landcare Grant, supported by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA) to bring project to life.
A working group was formed to help shape the project. The group included volunteers from the Barwon Estuary Project, Geelong Field Naturalist Club, BirdLife Bellarine, Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine, Friends of the Lobster Pot, and residents who have a strong affiliation with the estuary.
The result is the new ‘bird observation point’ that overlooks the Barwon River, mudflats and mangroves – an internationally listed Ramsar site.
The simple, open structure maintains million-dollar views for all whilst providing a place for birdwatchers and visitors to stop, look, and connect with Country. Signage adds depth to the experience and tells of Wadawurrung connection to Country and bird species you may encounter.
It’s a great spot to see a range of wildlife including important local species and the migratory birds that depend on the estuary to survive.
You can find out more at www.barwoncoast.com.au/barwon-river-bird-observation-point/
Barwon River bird observation point.
Signage highlighting migratory birds of the lower reaches of the Barwon River.
Hide launch day: volunteers from the Barwon Estuary Project and a local resident.
Coastcare Victoria's 'Coastline'
Victorian Budget announcement
The Victorian State Budget 25/26 was delivered on 20 May 2025, with $17 million allocated over two years to the Landcare and Coastcare Victoria volunteer programs. The funding is through the Sustainability Fund and will enable Victorian communities to engage in environmental conservation and help address biodiversity loss.
This exciting announcement ensures that the Coastcare Victoria program will continue to connect with and encourage Coastcare stewards, volunteers, and community to care and act for the marine and coastal environment for future generations.
The program will continue to develop networking and engagement opportunities, provide meaningful funding through Community Grants and the Summer by the Sea program, and support education and capacity-building through the Coastcare Victoria Schools Kit and regional events.
For more information, visit www.budget.vic.gov.au/strong-regional-victoria.
2025 Coastcare Victoria Community Grants
Congratulations to the 27 successful 2025 Coastcare Victoria Community Grants Program grant recipients. Successful recipients were announced by the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. Jacinta Allan MP – www.premier.vic.gov.au/grants-help-care-marine-and-coastal-environments.
This grants program funds projects that build volunteer capacity, improve environmental and cultural values, support community adaptation, and improve ecosystem resilience to climate change.
- In the Barwon South West region, Friends of the Bluff will use the funding to help increase inclusivity and participation through the re-establishment of Sharing the Love – A Marine Volunteers Forum.
- Around Port Phillip Bay and Western Port region, Bunurong Land Council will receive funding to provide an opportunity for Bunurong Elders, knowledge holders, and community members to visit Bunurong Land and Sea Country connected to Wunmarrin (Western Port Bay).
- In the Gippsland region, one of the successful applications, Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group, has received funding to improve habitat for threatened birds at Kilcunda-Powlett River.
For more information including a full list of recipients, visit www.marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/coastal-programs/coastcare-victoria/coastcare-victoria-community-grants.
We thank all the Coastcare stewards, successful and unsuccessful, who applied for the 2025 Coastcare Victoria Community Grants. We acknowledge that these applications and projects take time, dedication, and huge amounts of effort, from submitting a grant application to ensuring that the activities come to life.
Well done and thank you to the passionate and highly valued volunteers who protect and care for Victoria's 2,500 km coastline.
Environmental Volunteer Managers Grow, Gippsland Forum
We are excited to invite you to the upcoming Environmental Volunteer Manager Grow, Gippsland Forum.
This forum will be a regional get-together of environmental volunteer professionals, providing space for connection, learning and sharing. The forum will include:
- an inspiring panel discussion between leading environmental volunteer professionals
- workshop opportunity for attendees to develop their leadership skills
- opportunity to network with a variety of Gippsland-local organisations.
The details:
- When: Tuesday 24 June 2025 (10 am to 4 pm)
- Where: Nakunbalook Environmental and Cultural Education Centre, Sale
- Who: The target audience is paid or unpaid Victorian environmental volunteer managers who lead and support Gippsland based environmental volunteer groups or networks.
- Cost: FREE!
- How to join: Please complete the online registration form
The organising committee for this event is a collaboration between Coastcare Victoria (DEECA), Biodiversity Community Programs (DEECA), West Gippsland CMA and East Gippsland CMA.
Coastcare Victoria Schools Kit update
Free professional development opportunity for educators
Join our upcoming free professional development session to explore the Coastcare Victoria Schools Kit and empower your students to become coastal environmental change makers.
The free kit, which can be found at www.marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/coastal-programs/coastcare-victoria/coastcare-victoria-school-kit, features lesson plans, quizzes, games, videos and worksheet investigations to take into the classroom (Grades 5 to 8). All teachers and educators across schools, government and community organisations are welcome.
- Where: Online
- When: Wednesday 3 September 2025 at 4 pm
- How to get involved: Register via Eventbrite.
Incursion with St Theresa’s Primary School
On 19 May 2025, students from St Theresa’s Primary School in Albion received a visit from Coastcare Victoria and Ecolinc to learn about coastal environments as part of the Coastcare Victoria Schools Kit. This incursion followed the students’ recent visits to Jawbone Marine Reserve and Phillip Island to learn about marine ecosystems.
The classroom explored complex food webs through a game of Marine Jenga. Learning about the delicate balance of ecological producers and consumers, students created innovative ways to regain balance in ecosystems to prevent further loss of species (and Jenga blocks!). This included recycling, reducing plastic use, and volunteering locally.
The session wrapped up with a game based around sustainable fishing. Students acted as local fishers and implemented responsible catch limits, fish size limits, and made a promise to protect all marine reserves and sanctuaries.
Nicole from Ecolinc teaching the students about sustainable fishing. Image source: Coastcare Victoria, Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Country.
Great Ocean Road excursion with Black Hill Primary School
On 20 May 2025, a group of primary students from Ballarat travelled to Lorne Main Beach to meet with Nicole Mason from Ecolinc and Shaya from Coastcare Victoria and learn about marine litter and biodiverse ecosystems using the Coastcare Victoria Schools Kit.
Activities included ambling to the rockpools to identify species living in the intertidal zone such as sea anemones and beaked mussels. Students shared which species they saw the most of, and discussions of habitats for these creatures led perfectly into the next activity, which involved a litter cleanup.
Students picked up 340 items of litter across the foreshore. They The litter was separated into categories and counted before being entered into the Litter Stopper app. Over 80 cigarette butts, 73 food wrappers and 15 soy sauce packets were found!
These activities showcased fun ways to get involved in caring about the coastline and marine creatures.
Students sorting beach litter into categories for adding to the Litter Stopper app. Source: Coastcare Victoria.
Students looking at rockpools. Source: Ecolinc, Eastern Marr Country.
National Volunteer Week 2025
National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering. This special event is an opportunity to highlight the important role of volunteers in our community and invites people not currently volunteering to give it a go.
National Volunteer Week 2025 (19 – 25 May) celebrated the power of volunteering to bring people together with the theme Connecting Communities.
Here at Coastcare Victoria, we recognise how vital environmental volunteers are for connecting, strengthening and enlivening their local communities.
If you’d like to find a local environmental volunteering group and give acting for nature a go, visit here: www.environment.vic.gov.au/volunteering/volunteering/getting-involved.
Coastal Hero: Murray Orr
This month, Murray Orr, the Foundation President of Bayside Earth Sciences Society Inc. (BESS), was awarded the Coastcare Heroes Medal.
This medal recognises the lifetime of work Murray has contributed to the local Beaumaris Cliffs fossils and the impact his passion and dedication has had on the wider community.
Since founding BESS, Murray has worked tirelessly to conserve local fossil heritage and has provided immense personal contributions to the rich local fossil collections.
A word from Murray:
‘The fossils from Beaumaris Bay, both land based and aquatic, continue to add to our scientific knowledge and the group is well positioned to keep providing new knowledge from the last great extinction and climate change episode in Victoria only some 5.5 million years ago. Let’s hope we take note of the warning signs.’
Congratulations Murray!
Pictured here is Sandra and Murray in front of a model of Pelagornis. Sandra, as a sculptor, also undertook the two-year project of carving and assembling a model Pelagornis (a pelican-like bird which flew in Beaumaris with a wing span up to 6 metres and with a full bill of tooth-like fangs). Modelling was scaled from scant internet photos and the model was displayed at BESS’ 2024 expo for the first time. It’s the only full-scale artist’s model of the skeleton of the bird in Australia.
Sandra and Murray in front of a model of Pelagornis. Source: Murray Orr.
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Page last updated: 13/06/25