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Foreshore Master Plan
Published on 12 December 2024
About the Foreshore Master Plan
Barwon Coast is creating a Master Plan for all the coastal public land we manage between Breamlea and Ocean Grove. This includes Bancoora Beach, Thirteenth Beach, Barwon Bluff, Barwon Heads foreshore, Bukareeyoo, Ocean Grove Main Beach and Collendina.
The Barwon Coast Foreshore Master Plan will guide the protection, enhancement, and connection of key areas. Community insights will play a vital role in shaping this 15-year plan to ensure the Foreshore is preserved and managed for future generations.
Thank you for getting involved
Thank you to everyone who took part in our recent community design workshops and pop-up sessions from 25 to 29 June 2025. Across five days, we heard from over 175 passionate locals, visitors and stakeholders who shared ideas, priorities and feedback to help shape the future of the Barwon Coast, taking the amount of voices heard during our 8-month consultation to over 500!
Community, camper and stakeholder insights will play a vital role in informing the development of the draft Barwon Coast Foreshore Master Plan.
Next steps
We’ll be reviewing all input collected across the workshops and survey, and begin developing the draft Barwon Coast Foreshore Master Plan. A Community Engagement Report summarising what we heard will be made available on this page in coming months.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Master Plan continues to take shape.
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To stay up to date on this project including upcoming opportunities to get involved, please click the link below.
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About the Foreshore Master Plan
The Master Plan will look at how Barwon Coast and the community currently use and manage the reserve and set the future strategic land use direction to ensure we can continue to manage our natural environment while meeting the needs of our diverse communities.
The project will consider the various uses across land, trails, conservation areas, access and accessibility, amenities and infrastructure. There will be a focus around key activity areas such as Bukareeyoo, Bancoora Beach, Barwon Heads foreshore and Ocean Grove Main Beach. The master plan will inform Barwon Coast’s works program for the next 15 years.
Barwon Coast is working closely with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, state and local government agencies, and key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive and inclusive plan. A Community Reference Group, formed in late 2024, will help ensure the plan reflects the needs and aspirations of the community and visitors.
The Foreshore Master Plan is a key action out of Barwon Coast’s Coastal and Marine Management Plan 2020-2025, which provides the foundation for this Master Plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is a ‘Master Plan’?‘Master Plan’ can mean different things to different people. It is ivotal to this process to explore what a Master Plan looks like. To do this we will work with the community to develop a shared vision for the Foreshore. It’s important to recognise that ‘leaving things as they are’ isn’t the same as doing nothing.
Why is a Master Plan needed?The Master Plan will set Barwon Coasts direction and a significant amount of its program of work for the next 15 years. It will ensure that Barwon Coast is reponding to pressures like population growth, ageing infrastructure and coastal hazards (erosion and sea level rise), as well as guide investment to ensure we continue find the right balance between meeting the needs of our communities while protecting and enhacing our natural environment.
In addition, the Barwon Coast Coastal and Marine Management Plan 2020-2025 (CMMP) is due for renewal in 2026. The outcomes of this project will inform development of a new CMMP.
Who is developing the Master Plan?Barwon Coast is working with Hatch Design to develop the Master Plan. Hatch Design will lead community engagement activities and development of the Master Plan.
Barwon Coast will coordinate the project and will work closely with our communities and stakeholder organisations, including Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Department of Energy, Environment, Climate Action (DEECA), Department of Transport and Planning, City of Greater Geelong, Barwon Water, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and Parks Victoria.
Didn’t Barwon Coast recently complete a master plan?Yes. The Camping and Caravan Parks Master Plan, which sets out Barwon Coasts accommodation needs for the next 10 years, was approved in 2023. The Foreshore Master Plan will not review the accommodation needs but will review camping and caravan park areas in relation to public access and facilities through the Foreshore reserves.
How does the Master Plan relate to the Barwon Coast Coastal and Marine Management Plan 2020-25?Development of master plan is a key strategic action out of the Barwon Coast Coastal and Marine Management Plan 2020-2025 (CMMP).
The Barwon Coast Coastal and Marine Management Plan 2020-2025 (CMMP) guides the long-term use and management of the beaches, foreshores and caravan parks in the reserve.
Who is Barwon Coast?Barwon Coast Committee of Management Inc (Barwon Coast) is delegated to manage 19km of the coast along Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula. This includes the beaches and foreshores of Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, 13th Beach and Breamlea. In partnership with Traditional Owners, Barwon Coast’s charter is to protect and enhance the natural environment and provide opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy these areas.
Barwon Coast operates three caravan parks and one campground in the foreshore reserve, as well as managing various commercial leases and licences. All revenue raised is reinvested to care for the natural environment and to provide facilities and infrastructure along the coast for use and enjoyment by all.
How will the Master Plan be implemented?An implementation plan will be developed alongside the Master Plan which will set out priority actions (e.g. high, medium, low), costs estimates and potential funding sources. A quantity surveyor has been engaged to provide cost estimates. The implementation plan will guide Barwon Coast’s operational budgets and yearly works schedule. Actions will be implemented by Barwon Coast staff, contractors and consultants (depending on the required skills, timing and expertise).
Who will pay for implementing the Master Plan actions?Barwon Coast’s yearly operating budgets will include funds to complete actions each year over the lifetime of the Master Plan. Larger and more complex actions may require grant support to enable delivery (when available).
How will the community be involved in the development of the draft Master Plan?An extensive program of community engagement activities has been planned throughout 2025 and into early 2026.
- Wider community engagement started with launch of a Community Survey on 1 March 2025 and pop-up Stall at Lahey Square. Over 50 community members attended and shared their ideas and priorities for the Barwon Coast Foreshore.
- The Community Survey was open from 1-30 March.
- Feedback from this survey helped shape our Community and Stakeholder Design Workshops, which took place in late June 2025. These interactive workshops allowed participants to develop, test, and sketch ideas, addressing concerns and providing real-time feedback. This input will help shape a draft Master Plan and concept plans that reflect the community, visitor, and stakeholder vision.
- A report on ‘what we heard’ will be released for public review.
- A draft Master Plan will be released for feedback in late 2025.
In addition to these activities, a Community Reference Group (CRG) has been formed, which includes over 20 representatives from the community and community organisations who will be key advocates in ensuring the plan meets the needs of the community, visitors, and those invested in the foreshore.
Which state government policies and guidelines provide direction for the Master Plan?The Marine and Coastal Policy 2020 provides guidance for the planning, management and sustainable use of the coastal and marine environment. Key elements include;
- Acknowledging Traditional Owners rights aspirations and knowledge.
- Protecting and enhancing the marine and coastal environment.
- Respecting natural processes and adapting to climate change.
- Use and develop sustainably.
Other relevant documents include;
- Siting and design guidelines for structures on Victoria 2020
- Coastal and Marine Management Plan Guidelines 2023
- Bellarine Peninsula Statement if Planning Policy 2023
- Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy 2022
Project timeline
Project initiation, background review, listening and learning
December 2024 – May 2025
Stage 1: Community survey open
1 – 31 March 2025
• Stage 2: Community and Stakeholder Design workshops
June 2025
June 2025
Stage 3: Developing a draft Master Plan
July-September 2025
Stage 4: Draft Master Plan released for feedback
December 2025
Stage 5: Community drop-in session
Early 2026
Stage 6: Incorporate feedback and develop final Master Plan
Early-mid 2026
Final Master Plan released
Mid 2026Related Documents
Project contact
This is Wadawurrung Country. We acknowledge the Wadawurrung People as the Traditional Owners of the land, waters, seas and skies of Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, 13th Beach and Breamlea. We honour and say Nyatne to Elders past, present and future whose ancestors, for thousands of years, have cared for this part of Dja (Country). We are committed as an organisation to meaningfully work together with Traditional Owners to make Wadawurrung Culture and Country strong.
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