Natural coastal processes like wind, waves, tides and currents work to shift sediment and shape the coastline. When these processes negatively impact on use of the coast, they become coastal hazards. These impacts could be environmental, social, cultural or economic impacts.

Coastal hazards being considered in developing the Framework include: temporary flooding due to storms; permanent inundation (flooding) due to sea level rise; coastal erosion (due to sand/soil loss)

A changing climate is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events leading to greater damage from storm surges and intense rainfall events. At the other end of the scale, there will be longer and more severe droughts and heatwaves reducing freshwater inflows via Rutherford Creek and other waterways.

These factors along with rising sea levels will change coastal features like water levels, shorelines and vegetation characteristics. More detailed information will be developed as part of the Framework and other data is available here: https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/victorias-changing-climate  

Coastlines are dynamic environments, always changing in response to waves, currents and tides.

The impacts of coastal hazards can be felt across the coastal zone within the City of Casey, affecting communities and infrastructure as well as cultural and environmental values. Being prepared will help mitigate these impacts both now and into the future to reduce risks to life, property and special coastal features.

Given our understanding of climate change impacts on coastal areas; governments, businesses and communities are all considering how to adapt to them going forward.

The Framework will guide change and inform decision making on how to respond to coastal hazard risks, including: 

• Providing clear direction and a vision for the future of the Casey coast
• Justifying strategic adaptation recommendations based on evidence to limit risks to current and future development
• Prioritising actions across the Casey coastal zone like enhancing infrastructure and amending planning schemes
• Detailing possible funding pathways for future projects such as using vegetation or engineering works to better protect key coastal locations.

The strategy will help Council and our community to plan for future change and undertake actions to reduce coastal hazard impacts on Casey’s coast and, its many coastal values, uses and infrastructure.

Resilience is the capacity of systems to cope with or ‘bounce back’ following a hazardous event or disturbance – such as a storm or weather event. Systems can include social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects.  

Resilience means responding or reorganising to maintain essential functions, identities and structures, while maintaining the capacity to adapt and transform.

Adaptation means that we all do things differently to allow for the impacts a changing climate will generate. This could mean doing things like using planning controls, improved infrastructure, revegetation and new technology to reduce the consequences of factors like rising sea levels and increasingly severe weather events.   

A lot of work has been undertaken in previous years which provides a strong foundation for the Casey Coastal Framework. It includes looking at local coastal processes in light of climate change, strategic plans for development as well as assessments of the environmental, social, cultural and economic values along the Casey Coast. Also, we understand the value of local knowledge and so will be engaging with the community through the development of the Casey Coastal Framework.

There will be lots of opportunities for residents to share their ideas and knowledge and get involved in shaping the Framework.

We’ll be launching some online activities and getting out and about to chat to the community.

Make sure you are subscribed to the Casey Conversation’s Coastal Framework page to receive any updates.

In addition to engaging with the community, we’ll be having discussions with other organisations and agencies to develop the framework. This includes: 

• Traditional Owners – Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (BLCAC) as the Registered Aboriginal Party for Casey’s coastal and marine areas 
• Department of Transport and Planning (DTP)
• Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)
• Melbourne Water 
• Parks Victoria 
• State Emergency Service 
• Neighbouring Councils   
• Committees of Management 
• Victorian Marine and Coastal Council (VMaCC) 

There are several similarities and differences between the two projects. For example, the Future Foreshores project will solely consider the future management arrangements for coastal areas of public land within the City of Casey that are overseen by committees of management.

In comparison, the Casey Coastal Framework will include the entire coastal area within the municipality and will be largely focused on future planning and infrastructure needs.

Both projects will consider values of coastal areas and ways that risks to them can be mitigated. Project managers for both projects will work closely to ensure the projects complement each other.