FeAST Functionality Upgrade: New Species Insights
The Marine Knowledge Unit team are excited to announce that the Marine Biodiversity Values (MBV) analysis is now integrated with the Feature Activity Sensitivity Tool (FeAST) and live on CoastKit!
The MBV analysis uses information presented by the MBV map (2024), which spans Victorian Coastal Waters and identifies areas of high biodiversity value. It evaluates 263 listed, threatened, and key marine and coastal biodiversity features assigning a spatial ranking from 0 (low) to 100 (high).
What’s New?
Users of the tool will now receive in the FeAST report:
- MBV Spatial Assessment: Shows how much of the project area intersects with high biodiversity value areas, critical for identifying priority areas to avoid impacts.
- MBV Species Assessment: Provides a list of species likely to occur within the project area, including their conservation status and proportional overlap.
Over the next two years, we’ll be rolling out more innovative features and functionality enhancements in FeAST. This project aims to further streamline environmental assessments and support evidence-based decision-making for Victoria’s marine and coastal environment.
- Receive the latest tool updates by signing up for our newsletter Sign up
- Check out the FeAST on CoastKit
- Learn more about FeAST and find guidance materials and instructional videos on the FeAST webpages.
- For more information about MBV map methodology visit our MBV page.
If you have any questions about FeAST, contact us at Coastkit@deeca.vic.gov.au
FeAST spatial assessment feature. Credit: DEECA.
FeAST species assessment feature. Credit: DEECA.
Adapt West Project Team Reaches Major Milestone
The team delivering a project to guide how we manage coastal hazards and future resilience along the Port Phillip Bay western shoreline has reached a significant milestone.
Adapt West – Shaping our Shores is a strategic planning project guiding how we adapt to flooding, erosion and groundwater changes between Williamstown and Avalon. The project is being delivered through a Regional and Strategic Partnership (RaSP) of ten partner organisations, led by DEECA.
Over the last year, the project team and partners have been engaging with the community to understand what they consider special and important about living, working and recreating in the project area.
Several key reports were released earlier this month, summarising community values and ecological features in the area, and a vision to guide adaptation planning.
This information will help ensure long-term planning considers what the community values and wants to be protected and conserved, alongside ways to manage coastal hazards along our changing shoreline.
The project will ultimately deliver a Coastal Hazard Adaptation and Resilience Plan that 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.
To read the reports and learn more, visit https://www.marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/coastal-programs/adapt-west-shaping-our-shores.
Adapt West - Shaping our Shores project extent. Credit: DEECA.
Boardwalk at Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve and Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Parks Victoria
Marine and Coastal (Prescribed Consents) Regulations
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is pleased to share an update on a recent change to requirements when undertaking activities on marine and coastal Crown land in Victoria.
Under the Marine and Coastal Act 2018 (Act), a person must obtain consent from the Minister responsible for the Act (or their delegate) to use, develop or undertake works on marine and coastal Crown land. To simplify and streamline consents under the Act, the Marine and Coastal (Prescribed Consents) Regulations 2025 (the regulations) have been made and are now in effect.
The regulations prescribe consent under the Act for certain activities on marine and coastal Crown land. This means that certain activities on marine and coast Crown land may now proceed without the need to obtain individual consent, provided the activity falls within the scope of the prescribed consent.
It is important to note that the prescribed consents in the regulations include conditions that must be adhered to when undertaking an activity outlined in the regulations.
DEECA is continuing to undertake work to guide and support the Marine and Coastal Act 2018 consent process and will check in with land managers on the implementation of the regulations over the next six months to help us understand how the regulations are being used and if further guidance is required.
If you have any questions about the regulations, please contact Ryan Bath at ryan.bath@deeca.vic.gov.au.
Coastcare Victoria's 'Coastline'
Summer By The Sea 2026 – Grants Now Open
Coastcare Victoria’s 2026 Summer By The Sea Grants Program is now open!
Organisations can apply to share in $70,000 of funding to deliver events that engage Victorians with their local coastlines!
The theme for this year is ‘The coast, the sea, and our community’ reflecting the value and importance of community in how beautiful local places are cared for.
Grants of up to $7,000 are available for organisations to deliver Summer by the Sea events during January 2026.
To find out more or discuss your event idea, speak to a Coastcare Victoria Officer.
Applications are open now and close on 15 October 2025.
For more information, event criteria and guidelines, visit: https://www.marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/coastal-programs/coastcare-victoria/summer-by-the-sea/
Please note, this is for providers to apply for funding to deliver events. Booking for events will open to the public in December 2025.
New Schools Kit Lesson Modules
The Coastcare Victoria Schools Kit now has two brand new lesson modules, with all lesson plans aligned to the Victorian Education Curriculum.
The Coastcare Victoria Schools Kit features lesson plans, quizzes, games, videos and worksheet investigations to take into any indoor or outdoor classroom (Grade 5-8).
All teachers and educators across schools, government and community organisations can use this kit for free year-round.
The Schools Kit celebrates coastal and marine science for every Victorian student to enjoy and foster ongoing environmental stewardship into the future.
New lesson: Coastal Custodians, Citizens and Scientists
Through this lesson, students will develop an understanding on:
- scientific illustrations vs. scientific diagrams
- data collected by scientists and citizen scientists
- scientific meanings of everyday words
- creating scientific posters
New lesson: Islands and Invasive Species
Through this lesson, students will develop an understanding on:
- researching and recording geographical terms
- creating accurate maps
- describing new species based on life history traits
- drawing the distribution of species in an ecosystem
To access the new lessons in the Schools Kit, visit Coastcare Victoria's website.
If you have further questions about the Schools Kit, please reach out to coastcare.victoria@deeca.vic.gov.au.
Volunteers completing a BioBlitz at Barwon Bluff, Wadawurrung Country
Coastcare Victoria Community Grants 2024 Recap
The 2024 Coastcare Victoria Community Grants, funded by the VicCoasts initiative, supported 20 community-led environmental groups and organisations in delivering projects that enable the community to care for the marine and coastal environments.
The projects were delivered across 2,500km of coastline, from Leywhollot-Fawthrop Lagoon Estuary in Portland to Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary in Cape Conran National Park. They were delivered with collaboration from the Land Manager and supported by over 935 volunteers, including 290 new volunteers, who generously contributed over 5,000 hours of their time to support the achievements.
Twenty community-led environmental groups and organisations conducted activities for over 2,200 participants, enhancing the diversity of individuals engaged in coastal stewardship and volunteering. They offered more than 50 educational and engagement activities focused on building volunteer knowledge and awareness of the threats to hooded plover habitats.
Since the Coastcare Victoria Strategy was released in 2021, the Coastcare Victoria Community Grants have funded over 140 projects, contributing $1.6 million to the state government's priorities.
These collective projects foster coastal stewardship and strengthen community and emphasised the importance of collaboration in preserving Victoria's precious coastal and marine ecosystems for future generations.
Working bee for the Friends of Harmers Haven (FoHH). Credit: Harmers Haven Resident & Ratepayers Group (HHRRG)
National Science Week
Last month we celebrated National Science Week!
We have a lot to thank science for – it drives innovation, improves health, protects our planet and keeps our communities thriving. Research helps us to adapt and become more resilient to the effects of climate change as we continue to support growth and thriving, productive and sustainable communities, environments and industries across Victoria.
Coastcare Victoria participated the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Science Week Expo on Wednesday 13th August, promoting everything citizen science. It had a great turnout, with 8 stalls from across the Department and our friends at Sustainability Victoria.
A huge thank you to every community member that contributes to citizen science and helps build our collective understanding of our shared environments. If you are wanting to get involved with citizen science opportunities, visit this website to learn more: https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/volunteering/volunteering/getting-involved
Coastcare Victoria stall at Science Week Expo. Credit: Andrew Geschke.
Zoos Victoria Careers Expo
Coastcare Victoria was invited to participate in the 2025 Melbourne Zoo Careers Expo, held recently in July on the lawns of the Melbourne Zoo.
Aimed at years 9-12, hundreds of students flocked to the Melbourne Zoo for two days of real-world career exploration and inspiring industry focused presentations centred on careers in the world of wildlife, conservation, environment, animal welfare, and more.
The careers exhibitor tent featured 30+ leading scientific, conservation and education organisations. For students it was a chance walk around and collect resources to gather inspiration or talk one-on-one with the industry exhibitors who collectively shared diverse insights into a typical day in their roles, the different pathways available, and the students own career ambitions.
Coastcare Victoria was lucky to secure a spot in the exhibition tent, with a stand showcasing volunteer opportunities with Coastcare Victoria groups, the Schools Kit, the Summer by the Sea program and capacity building opportunities.
Coastcare Victoria was met with many interested aspiring biologists, veterinarians and many who just wanted to get involved in environmental and coastal volunteering – which was great to see.
Zoos Victoria Careers Expo. Credit: Laura Town-Hopkinson.
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Page last updated: 16/09/25