The 17km of coast managed by Bellarine Bayside from Point Richards through to St Leonards on the Bellarine Peninsula has huge value and appeal to residents and visitors alike.

Threats to the coast are increasing and preliminary investigations have identified 171 beach access points along the northern Bellarine coast, equating to approximately 1 access point for every 100m. There are also several stretches of open beach access such as in Portarlington. Many of these access points are now cutting through cultural sites, impacting coastal vegetation or arriving at beaches where sea level rise and storm surge are creating unsafe conditions.

The Northern Bellarine Beach Access Study will analyse current beach access along the 17km stretch of coast from Point Richards to St Leonards and identify the long-term feasibility of existing access points, develop a framework and make recommendations for future management and interventions. 

This project will be undertaken alongside the development of a Coastal Adaptation Plan and the next Coastal and Marine Management Plan.