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Latest News
Close X7 October 2026
Hooded Plover breeding season update
Hooded Plover breeding season is underway across our coast, with a new nest now confirmed.
7 October 2026
Damage to Crater toilet block at 13th Beach
The Crater public toilet block at the lower car park next to Barwon Heads Thirteenth Beach Surf Life Saving Club has been temporarily closed following significant damage to the building overnight.
6 October 2026
Increased mosquito activity across the region
Barwon Coast is aware of increased mosquito activity following an unusually early start to the mosquito breeding season.
5 October 2026
2025-26 Annual Report released
Our 2025-26 Annual Report is now available online.
29 September 2026
New Barwon Heads cabins officially launched
An update on construction activities at Barwon Heads Caravan Park
Hooded Plover breeding season update
Published on 7 October 2026
Hooded Plover breeding season is underway across our coast, with a new nest now confirmed and signs of potential nesting activity at several other locations.
Our Natural Reserves team, together with the Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine, is continuing to monitor breeding activity and put temporary protection measures in place where required.
Current breeding activity
Bluff South Dune – The Corner
A Hooded Plover pair has established a nest, with eggs now being incubated.The nest is on rough, exposed ground and the eggs are extremely well camouflaged, making them very difficult to see.
Please steer well clear of the nesting area, keep dogs on lead and follow all temporary signage, fencing and restrictions in place. Giving the birds plenty of space is one of the best things we can do to help them successfully incubate their eggs.
Bancoora – Black Rock
Scrapes have been identified, indicating Hooded Plovers may be preparing to nest in the area.Thompson Creek – Vagg Street
Scrapes have been identified and the area is being monitored for further nesting activity.Wedge Street – Tuckfield Street
Hooded Plovers are currently on territory and showing signs of potential breeding activity.What is a scrape?
Hooded Plovers nest directly on the beach or in nearby dunes. Rather than building a traditional nest, they create a small depression in the sand, shell grit or other ground material known as a ‘scrape’.
A pair may create several scrapes before choosing one in which to lay their eggs, so the presence of scrapes can be an early sign that a nest may be imminent.
Help give Hooded Plovers the best chance
We’re very appreciative of the many members of our community who are keeping an eye out for Hooded Plovers and helping protect them during breeding season.
If you are visiting areas where Hooded Plovers are breeding:
- Give birds, nests and chicks plenty of space.
- Keep dogs on lead where required and always follow local dog regulations.
- Follow all temporary signs, fencing, beach closures and pedestrian detours.
- Walk close to the waterline and away from nesting areas and dunes.
- Never approach or disturb a Hooded Plover nest, eggs or chicks.
What to do if you find a nest
It is possible you may spot a nest before our monitoring teams do. Hooded Plover eggs are extremely well camouflaged and can be very difficult to see.
When parent Hooded Plovers detect a possible threat near their nest, they will often move away and try to draw the threat with them. If you find eggs and cannot see the parents, they are likely to still be nearby.
If you find a nest with eggs:
- Do not touch or move the eggs – moving them may make it difficult for the parents to relocate their nest.
- Move away from the area – parent Hooded Plovers need space to safely return to and incubate their eggs.
- Let us know – contact Barwon Coast on 5254 1118 so our Natural Reserves team can investigate and put appropriate protection measures in place.
A huge thank you to the Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine for their ongoing work identifying and monitoring Hooded Plovers along our coast.
We’ll continue to share updates as the breeding season progresses.
Photo below by Rod Morrison.
Related Articles
Damage to Crater toilet block at 13th Beach
The Crater public toilet block at the lower car park next to Barwon Heads Thirteenth Beach Surf Life Saving Club has been temporarily closed following significant damage to the building overnight.
Increased mosquito activity across the region
Barwon Coast is aware of increased mosquito activity following an unusually early start to the mosquito breeding season.
New Barwon Heads cabins officially launched
An update on construction activities at Barwon Heads Caravan Park
🚧 Damage to Crater toilet block, Thirteenth Beach
The Crater public toilet block at the lower car park behind Barwon Heads Thirteenth Beach Surf Life Saving Club has been temporarily closed following significant damage to the building overnight.
The building has been secured and an urgent engineering assessment is underway to determine the extent of the structural damage.
Please respect all closure signage and barriers and stay clear of the building. The nearest public toilets are located at Beacon.
Victoria Police has been notified and anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to report it to police.
For more information and updates, visit our website: https://barwoncoast.com.au/damage-to-crater-toilet-block-at-13th-beach/Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18110634302135172
Summer job? Sorted. ☀️🌊
Come along to our recruitment event this Friday and find out about casual cleaning work with Barwon Coast over the 2026–27 peak season.
We have at least 15 positions available, with work across our caravan parks and campground in Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove and Breamlea.
📅 Friday 9 October
⏰ 10 am–12 pm
📍 Education Room, Barwon Heads
Meet the team, ask your questions and see if it’s the right fit for you.
👉 https://barwoncoast.com.au/SummerCleaningCasuals2026Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18117350933006373
Our 2025–26 Annual Report is out!
It’s a snapshot of a busy year caring for the 22 kilometres of coastal Crown land we manage and the work happening every day to protect, maintain and plan for these special places.
Inside, discover:
🌊 The technical work, planning and assessments completed over the year that are helping shape the future of our coast
🌊 Projects and improvements delivered across the coast
🌊 how we work with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, community groups and volunteers
🌊 The caravan parks and camping grounds that help fund our work
Revenue generated through @barwoncoastcaravanparks is reinvested into caring for the coast, supporting the people, projects, facilities and conservation work undertaken by our dedicated team.
Take a look back at 2025–26 and learn more about the work happening across our coast.
👉 Read the Annual Report on our website (link in bio)Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18103093121001117
We have been advised by @barwonwater to advise all regular users to avoid coming into contact with the water in the Barwon River through Geelong until further notice.
@barwonwater have experienced sewer spills today that are expected to have compromised the quality of the water.
The results of water quality testing will determine when they can provide further advice that the water is safe for use.
Please see latest updates here https://www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/.../alerts-and-updates... We will continue to keep you updated as further information becomes availableOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 17909167416540596
Your summer job could look a little different this year. 🌊
We’re looking for Casual Cleaning Officers to work across our caravan parks and campground over the busy summer season.
Think flexible casual work, great coastal locations and the chance for a walk or quick dip at the beach when your shift is done.
No extensive cleaning experience? Don’t rule yourself out – training is available for the right people.
Come and meet us:
📅 Friday 9 October
⏰ 10 am–12 pm
📍 Education Room, Barwon Heads
Find out more (including a map to the Education Room!) 👉 https://barwoncoast.com.au/SummerCleaningCasuals2026Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18102326120377022
Some mixed news from our local Hooded Plovers 🐦
Unfortunately, the nests at 13th Beach and Blue Rocks have both failed. It appears the nest at Signpost, 13th Beach, hatched, but sadly the chicks did not survive. We are unsure of the cause - these little birds have lots of introduced and natural threats to deal with.
In more hopeful news, we’re seeing early signs of nesting activity at four locations across our coast – 13th Beach, Bancoora, Breamlea and Ocean Grove. 🤞
Please help give our hopeful Hooded Plover parents the best chance of success:
💙 Give birds, nests and chicks plenty of space
💙 Keep dogs on-lead and away from nesting areas
💙 Respect temporary fencing, closures and signage
💙 Walk close to the waterline and away from the dunes
Wish them luck – and please follow the signs and help give these little beach-nesting birds the space they need.
As always, a huge thank you to the Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine for their incredible work identifying and monitoring Hooded Plovers along our coast. 💛Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18026030630698393
🐚 Don’t forget – the Barwon Coast Discovery Centre is open extra days during the school holidays!
They’re open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1–4pm, so if you’ve got a little nature lover in the family, bring them along to check out some seriously cool stuff from our coast – from marine creatures and wildlife to geology, shipwrecks and local history. 🌊🔎
A big thank you to our friends at Friends of the Lobster Pot for giving visitors and our community even more opportunities to learn, explore and discover this special part of the coast. 💙
📍 Jetty Road, Barwon Heads
⏰ 1–4pm
💙 Free entry – all ages welcome
Find out more: https://barwoncoast.com.au/explore/barwon-coast-discovery-centre/Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18376491145242504
🌊 One last big day of the Barwon Heads Nature Festival!
Friday 25 September brings two great opportunities to celebrate – and care for – our local environment.
🧤 Barwon Heads Great Spring Clean Up - 10.00 am–12.00 pm, Lahey Square
Join the community and lend a hand to help keep Barwon Heads and our beautiful coastal environment looking its best.
🎬 Turning the Tide short film festival - 7.00–9.00 pm, Barwon Heads Hall
Then settle in for an evening of short films celebrating our oceans and the people working to protect them.
Find out more about these events and everything else happening as part of the festival:
https://www.barwonbluff.com.au/nature-festival/
A fantastic way to finish a week celebrating nature in Barwon Heads. 💚Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18463850029187974
🌱 Lend a hand at Bukareeyoo🌱
Our friends at Ocean Grove Coastcare have an upcoming regeneration event at Bukareeyoo – and they’d love some extra hands!
Join the group to help remove the environmental weed Euphorbia terracina and care for this beautiful part of our coast.
📅 Sunday 27 September
⏰ 10am–12pm
📍 BUK110 – the last car park before the Barwon Heads bridge. Look out for the Coastcare flag.
Gloves and tools will be provided, or bring your own.
Due to the plant’s irritating sap, the weeding activity isn’t suitable for children. Younger Coastcarers are still very welcome to come along with an adult and help collect rubbish.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 17886998217477660
☀️ Looking for summer work by the coast?
We’re recruiting at least 15 Casual Cleaning Officers to join our caravan park and campground team for the busy 2026–27 peak season.
Students, backpackers, seasonal workers and anyone looking for casual work are encouraged to come along to our recruitment event.
📅 Friday 9 October
⏰ 10 am–12 pm
📍 Education Room, Barwon Heads
Cleaning experience is preferred, but training is available for people with the right attitude and work ethic.
Come along, meet the team and find out if a summer with Barwon Coast could be for you.
👉 https://barwoncoast.com.au/SummerCleaningCasuals2026Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18454448554193832
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, Black Rock 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.
© 2026 Barwon Coast. Website by Residency Studios.
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