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Latest News
Close X5 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
17 September 2026
Notice to Mariners No. 415 – 2026
Barwon Heads – Barwon River Bar Depths Compromised
16 September 2026
Update on Surf Bridge North and South beach access tracks
We continue to closely monitor conditions at the Surf Bridge North and Surf Bridge Southbeach access tracks at RAAFs Beach.
14 September 2026
Looking for summer work? Join our team by the coast
Barwon Coast is recruiting at least 15 Casual Cleaning Officers to join our caravan park and campground team for the busy 2026-27 peak season.
Barwon Coast farewells long-serving Committee members
Published on 18 December 2025
The Barwon Coast Committee of Management has farewelled three valued Committee Members – Sandy Gatehouse, Shelly Fanning and Geraldine Keely – who have recently completed their terms of service.
Together, Sandy, Shelly and Geraldine have made a lasting contribution to the protection and management of the 22 km of Crown land coastline managed by Barwon Coast, from Collendina to Breamlea.
- Sandy Gatehouse served four terms, including one as Chair. A long-time Barwon Heads resident, Sandy has been a strong advocate for her community through the Barwon Heads Association and the Combined Bellarine Community Association. Her leadership helped guide Barwon Coast through a period of growth and change, strengthening its focus on transparency, community engagement and environmental care.
- Shelly Fanning contributed three terms of service, bringing over 25 years of professional experience in strategic and statutory land-use planning. As Managing Director of Coastal Planning Pty Ltd and significant prior experience as a sessional lecturer at Deakin University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment, Shelly’s expertise has been vital in guiding sustainable coastal planning and development across the reserve.
- Geraldine Keely served one term and provided thoughtful insight during her time on the Committee. Her care for the environment and strong sense of place added depth to the Committee’s decision-making and strengthened the organisation’s connection with community.
Barwon Coast CEO Gareth Smith expressed his appreciation for the outgoing members’ service.
“Each of these members has played a valuable role in helping Barwon Coast deliver on its purpose – protecting, enhancing and promoting the natural environment for the benefit of all Victorians,” Mr Smith said.
“Their leadership and commitment have supported Barwon Coast’s evolution into a stronger organisation, equipped to meet the challenges of managing a dynamic coastal environment, and we thank them for their contribution.”
Barwon Coast will announce its new Committee of Management in coming days.
Related Articles
New Barwon Heads cabins officially launched
An update on construction activities at Barwon Heads Caravan Park
Update on Surf Bridge North and South beach access tracks
We continue to closely monitor conditions at the Surf Bridge North and Surf Bridge Southbeach access tracks at RAAFs Beach.
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
🥾🛶 Walk, paddle and discover during the Barwon Heads Nature Festival
What better way to celebrate our local environment than getting out and experiencing it? There are some fantastic opportunities during the Barwon Heads Nature Festival, including:
🌿 Monday 21 September, 10.00 am – Explore Barwon Bluff
🛶 Monday 21 September, 10.00 am–12.00 pm and 12.30–2.30 pm – Canoe the Mangroves
🌱 Tuesday 22 September, 10.00 am – Walk on Country @ Barwon Bluff with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners
🌸 Wednesday 23 September, 10.00 am – Orchids in the Park
🌊 Wednesday 23 September, 7.00–9.00 pm – Land, Sea, Sky slide night
🔬 Thursday 24 September, 1.00–3.00 pm – Tide & Seek: a family ‘marine science’ day
These are just some of the events Friends of the Bluff have planned for a nature-filled week in Barwon Heads.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 17902426371569120
Take a look inside our new Moonah cabins at Barwon Heads Caravan Park! 👀🌿
Seven new cabins are *almost* ready to welcome guests, creating more opportunities for people to stay, explore Barwon Heads and experience our beautiful coast.
The new accommodation includes one dedicated accessible cabin, with accessibility and sustainability features incorporated across all seven cabins to provide comfortable, stylish and modern options for visitors to the Park.
This project was made possible with support from the Victorian Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund, alongside investment from Barwon Coast.
A big thank you to the Victorian Government for supporting this exciting addition to Barwon Heads Caravan Park.
We can’t wait to welcome our first guests! 🌊
@barwoncoastcaravanparksOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 17945288064341061
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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